All Whites would have good chance against Argentina - Chris Wood

All Whites striker Chris Wood. Photosport

The yawning chasm between world No.4 Argentina and 113th-ranked New Zealand isn't lost on All Whites striker Chris Wood.

But the New Zealand skipper is resolutely upbeat about the possibility of facing Argentina in next month's intercontinental play-off for a berth at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

In Nagoya for the All Whites international against world No.40 Japan on Friday, Wood is in confident form with his new club Burnley sitting sixth in the English Premier League.

He admits it's still largely up in the air as to who will be the fifth-placed South American team to face New Zealand.

At the moment it's Argentina, with only two matches remaining against Peru and Ecuador.

"If it does turn out to be Argentina, it is going to be a big challenge, but they are there for a reason and will be in fifth place because they haven't done well enough," Wood told football website ESPNFC.com.

"It would be a nice challenge, but we would have a good chance of progressing because they would not be at their strongest.

"They are not playing well enough to be a top-four nation in their division, so they are going to have weaknesses and have problems."

The All Whites' opposition for the home-and-away intercontinental play-off in November won't be finalised until next week.

Fourth-placed Peru are on the same points as Argentina, while Chile and Paraguay lie close behind in sixth and seventh.

Wood believes the prospect of a long-haul flight to New Zealand won't be one welcomed by which ever team finishes fifth.

"I am sure most of them won't want to travel all the way to New Zealand for a Friday or Saturday night game, then have to travel back to their own country and play us again, especially in between big games they will have in top leagues back in Europe."