Football: Off to Fiji ... but it'll be all hard work

Striker Ryan De Vries should play a big part in Auckland City FC's OFC Champions League campaign. Photo / Dean Purcell

Two weeks in Fiji might sound like a dream holiday but for Auckland City FC and Team Wellington it is the high-stakes business-end of their football season.

The top two New Zealand teams start their OFC Champions League campaign this weekend in a compact, 12-team, 16-day tournament which rewards the winner with a lucrative spot at the Fifa Club World Cup and a guaranteed payday of at least $660,000.

To win the competition, the New Zealand teams will have to progress through three group games, a semi and then a final in just over two weeks in hot weather against Island sides who, in some cases, have bolstered their ranks by recruiting top players from across Europe.

The New Zealand rivals have been separated in the group stages and defending champions Auckland face the hardest path to the final in Group B against national champions Amicale (Vanuatu), Suva (Fiji) and Western United (Solomon Islands).

Big-spending Amicale will be the biggest threat after recruiting six players from Italy, two from Argentina, two from Switzerland and one from Serbia, including veteran Serie A midfielder Nicola Princivalli.

Auckland are at full strength and have added Danyon Drake, Ant Hobbs, Colin Murphy and striker Gustavo Souto to the squad that dominated New Zealand's national league.

"I think these new signings make our opponents better and more experienced and the format of the OFC Champions League means there will be a lot of pressure in every game," said Auckland coach Ramon Tribulietx.

"The competition is tougher now, but we will take this campaign game by game just as we normally do. We'll look to learn most things about our rivals and make sure we're prepared well for every match."

Wellington have brought in some hired muscle of their own, including Waitakere United trio Jake Butler, Chris Bale and Alex Carr, Hawkes Bay United striker Sean Lovemore, Southern United forward Tom Jackson and Wellington Phoenix fullback Justin Gulley.

Wellington, who are playing in the OFC Champions League for the first time, will face AS Tefana (Tahiti), Hekari United (Papua New Guinea) and Tafea FC (Vanuatu) in group play.

Hekari have retained the core of their 2010 Champions League winning team and will be packed full of experience.

Butler and Bale believe AS Tefana will be their biggest challenge.

"All of these opponents will be very tough, especially Tefana," Bale said.

"The last time out against them we lost at Trusts Stadium with Auckland City, so they know how to win. Their past teams were pretty much the Tahitian national team who had great experience in the Confederations Cup in Brazil a couple of years back."

All the group games featuring Auckland and Wellington will be aired live on Sky Sport, which will also show the semifinals and finals.

Auckland City FC schedule
Saturday, April 11: v Suva, ANZ Stadium, Suva. Sky Sport 5, 8.30pm (delayed)

Tuesday, April 14: v Western United, ANZ Stadium, Suva. Sky Sport 2, 4.30pm (live)

Saturday, April 18: v Amicale, ANZ Stadium, Suva. Sky Sport 5, 7pm (live)

Team Wellington schedule
Sunday, April 12: v Tefana, 8.30pm (delayed), Sky Sport 5

Wednesday, April 15: v Hekari, 4.30pm (live), Sky Sport 3

Friday, April 17: v Tefea, 7pm (live), Sky Sport 5