The South Australian public may have been lamenting the absence of several big names, but their replacements were up to the task of keeping a heavy-legged All Whites outfit at bay with a clinical performance in front of 21,281 rather quiet fans.

The Kiwis only landed in Australia barely 24 hours before the match but they never truly arrived at a rainy and dreary Adelaide Oval, with a horror travel schedule and decimated squad in the end proving an insurmountable challenge.

Josh Kennedy bagged a double to take his international tally to nine goals but the stars of the show were up-and-comers James Troisi, Michael Zullo and Matthew Spiranovic.

Adelaide-born winger Troisi and zippy full-back Zullo linked up on the left in a tantalising combination that could well be a glimpse into the long-term future for the green and gold, while Spiranovic and his partner Jon McKain were rarely challenged in the centre of defence.

Troisi was handed a start in his hometown for just his fourth cap and his performance on the left side of midfield was impressive enough to suggest he will be a regular in Australia's qualification campaign for the 2014 World Cup.

The 22-year-old was busy in the first half and could have scored early had his 39th-minute shot had a bit more venom - but he nailed his debut goal right at the death from the penalty spot, in front of family and friends.

Ben Sigmund brought down Robbie Kruse deep in injury time and Troisi was gifted the chance to open his international account, making no mistake with the spot kick.

He got off to a flying start, firing a rasping volley in just the second minute that barely missed the right post, while stand-in skipper Brett Emerton also flashed a shot wide from 20 metres early on.

But 30 hours of travel from Denver to South Australia had clearly taken its toll on the undermanned All Whites and the opener came in just the 10th minute - in the most embarrassing of fashions for New Zealand custodian Glen Moss.

Jeremy Brockie played an ordinary backpass to the Gold Coast United gloveman, but his dreadful first touch opened the door for Kennedy to help himself to the ball and tuck it into a vacant net.

To be fair, he wasn't helped by the surface at the famous cricket ground - the grass was cut far too short for a football match and the rain only made what was an already fast pitch even quicker off the bounce.

The Kiwis had a brief foray forward late in the first half, with Shane Smeltz meeting Kosta Barbarouses with a cross from the right - but the Brisbane flyer's backheel shot trickled harmlessly into the arms of Nathan Coe.

Coe was tested again barely a minute later with Brockie's cross from the left giving Smeltz half a chance in the air, but the Socceroos 'keeper batted the ball away to safety.

With a 1-0 lead at the break, Australian boss Holger Osieck withdrew his big guns for the second half, sending on Rhys Williams, Dario Vidosic and Robbie Kruse for Emerton, Brett Holman and Luke Wilkshire.

Vidosic's first touch was a pinpoint cross that found Kennedy right in front of goal in the 47th minute, but he inexplicably shinned the ball and sent it over the bar when it was far easier to score.

But he made up for it in the 59th minute as those two linked up once again from a corner, with Kennedy leaping above a flat-footed New Zealand defence to nod home his brace.

Australia 3 (Kennedy 9', 59', Troisi 90' pen) def New Zealand 0

Crowd; 21,281 @ Adelaide Oval