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All Whites coach Ricki Herbet - Source: Photosport -
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On the eve of the All Whites' World Cup clash, coach Ricki Herbert has said the team are ready for a close game with Bahrain.
The two teams will play for a place in next year's World Cup finals in South Africa when they meet at Wellington's stadium on Saturday night.
After a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the qualifier in Manama last month, New Zealand need a win to progress to the finals for the first time in 27 years.
Under the away goals rule, Bahrain would go through if there was a score draw, while another scoreless draw would mean extra time with a penalty shootout if no goals were scored.
Herbert said the team had prepared for the possibilities of extra time and a penalty shootout.
"I have no reason to think the tie won't be tight, I think it was very competitive when we're over there."
He expressed some discontent with Fifa's clarification of the away goal rules, which stipulated that any goals scored by Bahrain in the 30 minutes of extra time would count as double.
"I find it quite unique that (Bahrain) get 120 minutes to get the advantage of an away goal - we only had 90 when we were away," he said.
However, as that was the "lie of the land", he said they had accepted the situation.
In terms of a shootout, Herbert said everyone had practised for the possibility, and that there was a pecking order in mind.
"But again, having been in the heat of international football, sometimes it's on the night."
With a capacity 35,500 crowd set to pack the stadium for the game, Herbert was under no false illusions about just how important the game was to New Zealand
He said the team appeared to be handling the pressure of the occasion well.
"There's a spring in everyone's step, there's been a very positive approach to everything we've done," he said.
"As the clock runs down why wouldn't there be pressure and tension, and excitement? But they'll handle it, definitely."
Having played in the 1982 team that historically beat China to go through to the World Cup finals, Herbert had an insight into how the team were feeling.
"All those players sitting in our hotel are going to have a different feel, and that's great, I want them to feel that way because it is meaningful."
After struggling through this week's camp with a hip injury, it was still unclear whether Simon Elliott would start for the team tomorrow , Herbert said.
"We won't make any call on the side until after training tonight," he said.
"It's a great chance for all of the players to have a game at this level, and he desperately wants to be part of it, as you'd expect."
Herbert said getting goals was a priority, and in the case that they went 1-0 down, there were players that could come on and change the game.
"I think we saw that in Bahrain," he said.
"Two of our least expected players, in terms of time on a park from a national point of view, Michael (McGlinchey) and Chris (Wood) I thought were very influential when they came on.
"I think the ammunition's there, we just need to work through what the situations are and we'll be alright."
