Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
So confident is New Zealand Football, Kiwi soccer's administrative body, that Bahrain will be overcome in the forthcoming World Cup qualifying playoff it has already contacted FIFA enquiring about the amount of money it can anticipate for appearing in South Africa and engaged an Australian agency to evaluate the sponsorship deals which are likely to emerge once a Finals berth is confirmed in November.
And yet, the All Whites' coaching staff members are adamant they do not underestimate the Reds!
In a New Zealand Herald article obviously intended to counter the suggestion made in a recent edition of GulfWeekly that the Kiwis were in danger of becoming overly cocksure, their assistant coach Brian Turner acknowledged: "Bahrain are a very dogged, very organised and technically-gifted team with a real desire to hang in there and tough it out. They are an Arab team playing like a European team. I have nothing but admiration for them. They play a simple 4-4-2, with three attacking midfielders and their talented captain playing in front of the back four. We will need to be at the very top of our game."
Turner's boss, Ricki Herbert, was only slightly less extensive in his praise, being quoted as saying: "Having seen videos of the games against Saudi Arabia, Bahrain were the better team. To score two goals away is a big effort."
It is no surprise, of course, to learn Herbert has been scrutinising film of Bahrain in action and, in that, he has an advantage over rival coach Milan Macala. For New Zealand play so irregularly, there is little for him to view!
And, he will find any footage from last June's Confederations Cup to be of limited value. New Zealand's single true star was absent through injury at the time, their best performer in the tournament has been suspended and won't face Bahrain, two potentially important recruits have since joined the squad and key striker Shane Smeltz produced the worst form of his international career when facing Spain, South Africa and Iraq.
The loss of goalkeeper Glenn Moss, for petulantly showing dissent to the referee during New Zealand's meaningless World Cup encounter in Fiji, is a setback, though unlikely to be a fatal one.
Moss's understudy, Mark Paston, is competent enough and boasts senior appearances with British clubs St Johnstone, Walsall and Bradford City. He has undoubtedly improved since conceding five whilst making an undistinguished senior international debut in Indonesia 12 years ago and enjoys the confidence of his team mates.
Captain Ryan Nelsen's return more than compensates for Moss being sidelined. Nelsen continuously underlines his class with Blackburn Rovers in the English Premier League and commands respect throughout the game.
How Herbert must wish he has three defenders of similar calibre to field alongside the admirable Nelsen.
Ivan Vicelich can point to seven seasons in Holland's top division, but is 33 now and plays his club football locally at semi-professional level. Still, he is the likeliest to appear with Nelsen in the heart of the rearguard.
Ben Sigmund suffered the trauma of sitting on the bench throughout New Zealand's record 13-0 annihilation by Spain at the 1997 World Under-17 Championship. Whereas none of his team mates graduated to the professional ranks, Sigmund's determination has seen him become an All Whites regular.
Happiest as a central defender, he is the latest to be asked to plug the problem right back position. David Mulligan, who has played for Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United and Barnsley in the English League's lower echelons, is another option here, although he has looked equally unconvincing in the role. Aaron Scott, 23, from Waitakere United of the domestic competition, is an additional possibility.
Herbert continues to place great faith in left back Tony Lockhead, despite his indifferent form of late and the claims of Mulligan. All three are employed by Australian A League club Wellington Phoenix when not on international duty.
The one New Zealander, apart from Moss, who enhanced his reputation at the Confederations Cup was Simon Elliott. This despite him having already gained a host of honours with Los Angeles Galaxy and experienced English Premier League football in Fulham's colours. He is another veteran (at 35) on whom the Kiwis will depend a great deal.
Tim Brown is the other preferred midfield workhorse and has played impressively in recent weeks under Herbert at the Phoenix.
Michael McGlinchey promises to add finesse and creativity previously lacking in the middle of the park. A former Scottish under-20 representative, he debuted for the land of his birth during the recent friendly in Jordan.
The middle portion in Herbert's 4-4-2 system is usually completed by Leo Bertos as a deep lying winger. Continuing the pattern of New Zealanders whose skills were sharpened amongst the English League's lesser lights (in his case, Rochdale), Bertos regularly creates goals through his pace and ball skills. Nevertheless, he has a tendency to 'disappear' during matches.
The razor sharp Shane Smeltz stands out as the All Whites' likeliest match winner. Seemingly on the scrapheap in 2007 when given a free transfer by Halifax Town, way down in the fifth tier of the English domestic pyramid, he then scored twice as New Zealand surprisingly held Wales to a 2-2 draw and hasn't looked back.
Smeltz's striking partner will probably be newly-capped Rory Fallon. Fallon threw in his lot with New Zealand realising, after representing England at youth level, that the pursuit of higher honours with that country were unrealistic. Capable of scoring spectacular goals, he is currently with Plymouth Argyle.
Two other British based forwards, Chris Wood and Chris Killen - first team squad members at West Bromwich Albion and Glasgow Celtic respectively - are in Herbert's arsenal too.
Up front potency, therefore, is hardly likely to be a problem for New Zealand. What does cause concern is the limited depth in the back four, particularly at right back, the lack of a quality linkman to service their twin strikers adequately and the scarcity of past opportunities to jell as a unit.
The All Whites will prepare for the game in Bahrain at the swank Jebel Ali Academy near Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates before flying to Bahrain the day before the match.
Bahrain will, beyond much doubt, have greater cohesion and this is an advantage they must maximise in the home leg. But, anything less than a two-goal advantage to take to Wellington would leave them vulnerable, especially if an away goal has been conceded.
As for New Zealand, a defeat by three or more would be disastrous; both destroying their World Cup aspirations and possibly turning the return into a financial disaster.
Although their home internationals rarely attract attendances above 3,000, the 40,000 capacity Westpac Stadium has been secured for Bahrain's visit.
New Zealand Football has branded its ticket sales marketing campaign 'One Shot For Glory'. Doubtless, the bullish comments on the outcome of the tie has a lot to do with drawing spectators and, if the home outfit's hopes are still intact before kick-off on November 14, then a large crowd can be guaranteed.
However, a hefty Bahrain win at Riffa could see that 'One Shot At Glory' embedded deep in New Zealand soccer's foot.
New Zealand squad
(Club - Caps/goals in brackets)
Goalkeepers: James Bannatyne (Team Wellington - 5/0), Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix - 21/0), Jacob Spoonley (Auckland City - 1/0)
Defenders: Andrew Boyens (New York Red Bulls - 14/0), Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix - 19/0), David Mulligan (Wellington Phoenix - 30/3), Ryan Nelsen (Captain, Blackburn Rovers - 39/9), Aaron Scott (Waitakere United - 5/0), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix - 10/1), Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City - 70/7)
Midfielders: Andy Barron (Team Wellington - 12/1), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix - 28/0), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix - 25/0), Simon Elliott (San Jose Earthquakes - 65/8), Michael McGlinchey (Central Coast Mariners - 1/0)
Forwards: Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle - 1/1), Chris Killen (Celtic - 24/17), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United - 29/17),
Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion - 3/0)
