Far from being a gentle stroll, former All Whites striker Vaughan Coveny believes both countries will be hungry to head off to South Africa on a winning note and having extracted maximum benefits from the 90 minutes in Melbourne on May 24.

"I'm really looking forward to the game and while at the back of their minds, players will be well aware of the need to keep clear of trouble, this is still an Australia versus New Zealand occasion and that has meaning," Coveny told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"You have players from both countries having just ended their league seasons and I think this match is an important chance for both coaches (Pim Verbeek and Ricki Herbert) to see where those players are at."

Coveny has played in World Cup qualifiers between the two countries over the years but admits the looming friendly is probably the biggest clash yet.

"I don't think a match between the two countries will have been played in front of such a crowd before and obviously you have both teams heading for the World Cup. It's fantastic," he said.

"I'm expecting a competitive game and I honestly think it's a win-win fixture for both countries. I would really like to see it become an annual event, especially as both nations are making such progress and I think it's a fixture that can again help push the sport's profile even more."

No predictions from Coveny on a result but he expects New Zealand to push hard for the result.

He added: "I think the win over Bahrain in the (World Cup) play-off showed what this team is capable of."