Football: Auckland big underdogs at Club World Cup

Auckland City midfielder Tim Payne. Photo / Phototek.

Moghreb Tetouan remain strong favourites to oust Auckland City at the first hurdle of the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco tomorrow morning, despite a run of erratic league form.

Moghreb sit in ninth place in the 16 team Moroccan league after an indifferent start to their local season but Auckland and All Whites midfielder Tim Payne believes the home side still hold all the aces in Rabat.

"Playing at home is really going to motivate Moghreb. It's going to be a tough task for us, but anything is possible in a one-off cup tie," Payne says.

Moghreb striker Mouhcine Iajour is considered a dangerman for the home side with a knack for scoring goals and he scored one in Raja Casablanca's last gasp 2-1 win over the Navy Blues in Agadir last year.

Iajour made the switch to Moghreb after bagging 17 goals in 43 appearances for Raja and winning the FIFA Club World Cup Bronze Ball for his efforts.

Moghreb coach Aziz El Amri warns the Kiwi and Oceania champions will be a difficult opponent.

"This team from New Zealand play a Latin type of game. They're tactically sound and they know how to pass the ball.

"They're good to watch and they're sure to pose us a few problems," El Amri says.

El Amri has not had his problems to seek with his team sitting in ninth place out of 16 teams in the Moroccan top flight.

The side has had three wins, five draws and three defeats, scoring 13 and conceding 11, evidence of a tightly run ship.

By contrast with Moghreb, Auckland's preparations for the Club World Cup have been consistent with just one defeat in the ASB Premiership against Team Wellington in their last 10 games.

A 2-1 win over Amicale in a maiden OFC President's Cup win, second place in the ASB Premiership table after five rounds and a game in hand is a more than healthy return for a side seeking its first FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final since 2009.

The 0-0 draw with Uzbekistan last week hasleft plenty of positives for the Oceania hopefuls to point towards and players like Emiliano Tade, Tamati Williams and John Irving have also stood out.

Auckland's selection options are wide open with the club noting just one injury concern with Joao Moreira still recovering from his leg break but making fast progress.

The team makes its official walkover of the 52,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat tonight.

The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports 1 on Thursday 11 December at 8.30am.