Soccer: All Whites strikers to team up after early matches

Chris Killen (L) and Shane Smeltz. Photos / Getty Images

Coach Ricki Herbert and All Whites fans will have to wait just a little longer before seeing first choice, but rarely used, twin strikeforce of Chris Killen and Shane Smeltz teamed together.

Both are members of the Confederations Cup-bound squad but Herbert said it was most unlikely the duo would be teamed together until the second of three warm-up matches in Africa.

Herbert's hands are tied somewhat.

While he, assistant coach Brian Turner and the 11 home-based players flew out of Auckland last night, the entire squad will not come together until the day before the first game against Tanzania in Dar Es Salaam on June 4.

"I probably will not play any of the players who are coming in from Europe or the States in that first game apart from maybe Andy Boyens," said Herbert. "That means it is likely to be the game against Botswana before we get to play Chris [Killen] and Shane [Smeltz] together.

"All players will get game time in those first two games as it is my intention to put out what I see as the likely team to play Spain in the first Confederations Cup match in the final warm-up against Italy."

Herbert said Boyens was the only player likely to be pressed straight into action as he knows he would not get more than maybe 20 minutes or so from Ben Sigmund as he works his way to back to match fitness while continuing his rehabilitation from hip surgery.

"We are lucky to have Ivan [Vicelich] in as cover for Ryan Nelsen," said Herbert, "but we can't push Ben Sigmund too hard too early."

Getting the team ready for the Italian match in Pretoria on June 11 (NZ time) and their Confederations Cup opener four days later promises to be a real test for Herbert.

He has players who have had plenty of football (mainly European-based), some (mainly from the US) who are just beginning their season and the rest (New Zealand or Australian-based) who have had little or no match play since February.

"That is always a problem," said Herbert. "We have been lucky that the New Zealand-based players [including those outside the Phoenix] have been working on individual programmes drawn up by the Phoenix sports scientist Eddie Baronowski. They have helped immensely and while there is no substitute for playing games, the players are at least in shape."

Herbert will take a softly, softly approach when the team arrives in Botswana later today after almost 30 hours of travel.

"We will probably do nothing before Saturday but then get right into it."