It's been a case of good news, bad news for Ricki Herbert as the All Whites fly out for an international friendly in Jordan, with captain Ryan Nelsen confirming his fitness but teenage West Bromwich Albion striker Chris Wood becoming the second late withdrawal through injury.
Wood hasn't recovered from the ankle injury he picked up against Rotherham in the Carling Cup on August 26 and with Celtic marksman Chris Killen pulling out of the squad with a calf strain, the All Whites are suddenly left with just two specialist forwards in the reduced 16-man squad for Thursday morning's match.
Ricki Herbert will now hand newly eligible Plymouth Argyle forward Rory Fallon his All Whites debut as part of the run-on 11, likely playing just in front of Shane Smeltz.
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia meet in Manama twice to decide who will face Oceania champions, New Zealand, for a place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
New Zealand Squad to Jordan, September 2009
Goalkeepers:
Mark PASTON (Wellington Phoenix - 20/0)
Jimmy BANNATYNE (Petone - 5/0)
Defenders:
Andrew BOYENS (New York Red Bulls - 13/0)
Tony LOCHHEAD (Wellington Phoenix - 18/0)
David MULLIGAN (Wellington Phoenix - 29/3)
Ryan NELSEN (Captain, Blackburn Rovers - 38/9)
Aaron SCOTT (Waitakere United - 4/0)
Ben SIGMUND (Wellington Phoenix - 9/1)
Ivan VICELICH (Central United - 69/7)
Midfielders:
Andy BARRON (Miramar Rangers - 11/1)
Leo BERTOS (Wellington Phoenix - 27/0)
Tim BROWN (Wellington Phoenix - 24/0)
Simon ELLIOTT (San Jose Earthquakes - 64/8)
Michael MCGLINCHEY (Central Coast Mariners - 0/0)
Forwards:
Rory FALLON (Plymouth Argyle - 0/0)
Shane SMELTZ (Gold Coast United - 28/15)
