Ivan Vicelich has already answered one SOS call to play for the All Whites but he's not sure if he will do it again in the World Cup playoff with the fifth-placed Asian qualifier.
The 32-year-old agreed to come out of international retirement for the Confederations Cup after skipper Ryan
Nelsen was forced to withdraw with a calf injury. Coach Ricki Herbert felt he needed an experience defender in Nelsen's absence, particularly against opposition like Spain and for the friendly against Italy.
Vicelich has been solid in defence and his main value is leadership both on and off the pitch - which is why Herbert wants him there when the All Whites head to the World Cup playoff.
"I would like him to continue," Herbert says. "I'm not surprised he's slipped back in seamlessly and I think his experience will be essential to us. He will also have time to be at his maximum."
Vicelich, though, is reluctant to commit.
"I will assess it when I get back [to New Zealand] and see what the feelings are," he said. "I said to all along to Ricki I would see how it goes."
Much could revolve around whether both Nelsen and Ben Sigmund are fit when the World Cup playoff roles around. Nelsen is vital if the All Whites are to be successful and Herbert is a big fan of Sigmund, who came into the Confederations Cup under an injury cloud after undergoing hip surgery.
Vicelich, who has now played 68 internationals and is the most experienced player in the current All Whites, might not be able to resist the chance to play in a crucial World Cup playoff.
The Auckland City captain received a call from Herbert asking him to play in South Africa when it was confirmed Nelsen's injury, picked up in the final weeks of the English Premiership, was serious enough to stop him playing in the tournament.
"I didn't even know Ryan was injured," he said. "I got a call from Ricki to say Ryan had been injured, we need you and we'd like you to come back as an experienced player. It was a total surprise. I had been expecting to be doing some coaching with some kids [over that time].
"I took a couple of days to think about it. I have been to the Confederations Cup a couple of times before and it's a really great tournament to be involved in. At the time I had only been out of training for two or three weeks. That was a major factor, because if you're going to do it you've got to do it right. You can't just turn up after four months of not touching a ball.
"It's good to be back. It's always been an honour to play for my country."
Michael Brown is in South Africa courtesy of Emirates, official airline of the 2010 World Cup.