Been there, done that: Rory Fallon isn't remotely afraid about what awaits his All Whites in Thursday's World Cup playoff against Mexico at Estadio Azteca.
It's a sleepy Sunday morning in Los Angeles but the All Whites' Mexican mission is underway.
He "retired" more than five years ago but Ivan Vicelich will be a key figure for the All Whites on Thursday.
It's hard to imagine - but the All Whites could take the field without Shane Smeltz and Marco Rojas on Thursday in Mexico City.
WaiBop United got exactly what they deserved from their Premiership opener - a surprise victory over Canterbury United.
If this is the calm, then the storm will be fierce when the All Whites lob into Mexico City as public enemy No 1 tomorrow.
He grew up dreaming of playing for Australia, but Andrew Durante understands his increasing importance to New Zealand's hopes of qualifying for back-to-back World Cups.
Both Auckland clubs began the ASB Premiership in fine fashion today but there was hope for those teams trying to disrupt the duopoly.
Team Wellington began their national football premiership campaign with a 4-1 defeat to perennial powerhouses Auckland City at David Farrington Park yesterday.
All Whites goal machine Shane Smeltz should be "pretty close" to match fit for Thursday's World Cup playoff match in Mexico City, according to his A-League coach.
The Wellington Phoenix have now gone five games without a win after a 1-1 draw with Perth Glory last night - but their All Whites emerged unscathed.
Next Thursday, the All Whites will be entering the most formidable fortress in world sport.
The Phoenix will need total commitment to the cause to earn their first victory of the season when they play Perth today.
The All Whites are well versed in demanding travel schedules but what they are about to undertake over the next two weeks is at the extreme end of the scale.
The All Whites Phoenix contingent won't have time to savour the moment at AMI Stadium tonight - they'll be on a madcap dash ultimately bound for Mexico City.
Skipper Andrew Durante insists the Wellington Phoenix will put their "crazy week" of disruptions behind them when they tackle Shane Smeltz's Perth Glory team in Christchurch tonight.
Waitakere United midfielder Jake Butler was added to the All Whites squad on Friday ahead of the New Zealand side’s FIFA World CupTM intercontinental playoff with Mexico beginning next week.
Team Wellington have signed English winger Charlie Henry to bolster their 2013-14 national football league roster.
The biggest blow to the All Whites in decades. With the timing and circumstances of Winston Reid's withdrawal from the All Whites after injuring an ankle in training, it is easy to get carried away with hyperbole but Ivan Vicelich provides some context.
Ben Sigmund says losing Winston Reid is "a massive blow" but he would relish the challenge of replacing the injured skipper for the World Cup playoff series with Mexico.
The Wellington Phoenix players reckoned they owed Ernie Merrick three points - before they heard about their coach's house fire.
The All Whites will battle Mexico for a place in the 2014 FIFA World CupTM without Winston Reid after the New Zealand skipper suffered an ankle injury in training with English Premier League club West Ham United on Tuesday.
Jeremy Brockie is relieved the uncertainty over the All Whites' availability is over because he didn't want to miss the Wellington Phoenix's A-League game in Christchurch.
Winston Reid is in serious doubt for the World Cup playoff against Mexico next week.
Leicester City are hopeful they will have striker Chris Wood available for the big East Midlands showdown with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Storm Roux's accent gives the game away.
Ernie Merrick has vowed not to let the upcoming international break destroy Wellington Phoenix's season as he prepares to lose five key players to New Zealand's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification bid.
West Ham are prepared to charter a private jet to enable defender Winston Reid to play at Norwich on Saturday and then fly straight to the United States to prepare for New Zealand’s World Cup play-off against Mexico.
Good news for the Wellington Phoenix players today with the announcement that their All Whites would be able to play against Perth Glory in Christchurch on Saturday.
The dream season of Storm Roux continued on Tuesday with the 20-year-old fullback named in the New Zealand squad for the FIFA World Cup intercontinental playoff with Mexico later this month.
New Zealand Football announced the 23-man All Whites squad on Monday for the FIFA World CupTM intercontinental playoff with Mexico later this month with uncapped Central Coast Mariners youngster Storm Roux included.
The start of Kevin Muscat's reign as Melbourne Victory's new head coach caused more frustration for his long-time mentor as the two-time A-League champions extended the Wellington Phoenix's winless start to the 2013-14 season at Etihad Stadium tonight.
There will be a few football folk praying there's not much injury time at Christchurch's AMI Stadium on Saturday.
After witnessing the Wellington Phoenix concede three goals in a half for only the fourth time in their history, Ernie Merrick described his return to the Melbourne Victory as a "great reunion" and bullishly predicted the teams could meet again in the A-League finals series.
Wellington Phoenix again paid the penalty for starting slowly when they were beaten 3-2 by Melbourne Victory before more than 23,000 people at Etihad Stadium on Monday night.