KEY POINTS:
The All Whites will open their 2010 World Cup campaign next month after all, but now against Fiji rather than Vanuatu as originally planned.
A revised draw released by the Oceania Football Confederation yesterday now has New Zealand at home to Fiji at North Harbour Stadium on October
13, and away to them four days later at a venue yet to be confirmed.
Originally New Zealand were scheduled to play Vanuatu, the bronze medallists at this month's South Pacific Games in Samoa, first-up in Port Vila and in Wellington four days later. Fiji were the runners-up to New Caledonia at the Games.
But with the under-prepared pitch in Port Vila deemed unsuitable for the October date, contingency plans were put in place including playing both games in New Zealand or the away game at a neutral venue.
It has now been agreed that postponing the away game against Vanuatu by five weeks means the ground should be ready. The All Whites will now play that away leg on November 17 and the return in Wellington on November 21.
Those games are seen as a big challenge for All Whites coach Ricki Herbert and his team who still have the painful memories of the loss to Vanuatu at the 2003 Oceania Cup in Adelaide - a result which killed their 2006 World Cup hopes at the first hurdle.
The game against the Carlos Buzzetti-coached Fijians is certain to attract a big first-up crowd.
At the Oceania under-20 tournament in Auckland in February, the Fijians attracted more support than the home team in the game of the tournament.
In accepting the need to change the fixtures, New Zealand Football chief executive Graham Seatter said the short lead-in period would test his organisation but he is looking forward to seeing the national side back in action on home soil.
He is also confident that reinstated New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen will be fit to play despite missing recent games for his English Premier side Blackburn Rovers.
It appears his hamstring injury is not as serious as first feared and he should be ready to play on either October 4 or 7 before flying to Auckland for the World Cup/Confederations Cup qualifier.
The All Whites will wrap up their qualifying campaign with matches against South Pacific Games champions New Caledonia in September next year.