4 Dec 2015

Travel delays leave Aucland City players jaded

7:38 am on 4 December 2015

The Auckland City footballers have arrived in Japan as they begin the next leg in their FIFA Club World Cup preparations, though travel delays have left them underprepared for tonight's warm-up match in Tokyo.

Auckland City FC coach Ramon Tribulietx

Auckland City FC coach Ramon Tribulietx Photo: Supplied

The Navy Blues play Japanese club Yokohama FC this evening.

The first group of Auckland players touched down on Wednesday afternoon, while the second batch only reached Tokyo yesterday after missing a connection in Hong Kong due to delays.

Coach Ramon Tribulietx says the second group are jetlagged and while the situation is far from ideal, he's not overly concerned.

"Obviously we're going to have to keep an eye on these players that have taken quite a few more hours [to arrive in Tokyo] than planned and see what they look like.

"If we have to re-adjust something we will do it. We just need to make sure everyone stays safe."

Tonight's warm-up match against Yokohama kicks off at 6pm (NZ time).

Auckland City's crunch game is next Thursday's Club World Cup playoff against the yet to be confirmed Japanese J-League champions, with the winner of that match granted entry into the Club World Cup quarter-finals.