KEY POINTS:
Tim Brown is ready to pull on the captain's armband for the second time and lead the All Whites into what he sees as a tough battle with Fiji in their Oceania World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
Elevated to lead New Zealand in the meritorious 2-2 draw against
Wales at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground in May last year when then captain [now retired] Danny Hay was forced out with injury, Brown has answered the call again for the game at North Harbour Stadium [kick-off 4pm].
Ryan Nelsen was set to lead the All Whites in his return to international duty but that has been delayed by on-going hamstring problems which have sidelined him for the past few weeks and kept him out of recent Uefa Cup and Premier League action.
All Whites coach Ricki Herbert had no qualms in pitching Brown into the role given what he showed against Wales last year and in his limited game time with the Wellington Phoenix this season.
Brown, vice-captain of the A-League club could have found himself leading the Phoenix against Newcastle Jets on Sunday as regular captain Ross Aloisi faces a disciplinary hearing in Sydney on Friday night to answer charges following an incident early in last Friday's 2-1 away loss to Queensland Roar.
Brown, despite his late start to the season as he overcame an injury, is ready to play Fiji and accept the added responsibility of taking the captaincy.
"Obviously not having Ryan is a loss," said Brown yesterday. "It would have been great to have him involved. It is very unfortunate with his hamstring injury.
"But for me to be able to do this job again, it's incredibly special."
In reflecting on the last time he was in the role, Brown said: "That game [against Wales] was easily the highlight of my career so far. It was a huge honour. To have that opportunity and play the way we did was great."
And of what he expects from Fiji, "not by any stretch of the imagination will this be easy. These games are qualifying for the World Cup and that's as huge to a Fijian as it is to a New Zealander. It's something we're not taking lightly but in saying that, I think we have got a very, very good squad assembled. All the signs are very positive."
The All Whites will train at North Harbour Stadium at 10.30 this morning and again in the afternoon.