The All Whites must play six home and away matches against nations competing in the South Pacific Games.

Assuming they remain the top side, New Zealand will qualify for the 2009 Confederations Cup and must then face Asia’s fifth-best team in a home and away play-off for a spot in the World Cup.

The South Pacific Games start in just two days and is this year being hosted by Samoa.

Iran are currently seeded fifth in Asia, while Australia lie in first.

The AFC’s seedings are based on the 2006 World Cup but the final fifth-place side will not be known until mid October 2009 when the AFC playoff is played.

The AFC playoff will be played between the sides that finish third in each group following the Round 4 AFC World Cup qualifiers.

Wellington Phoenix and All White midfielder Tim Brown is confident ahead of the schedule.

“We are eight games from the 2010 World Cup. We have six games from the Oceania teams and all being well we can probably back ourselves to come through,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“And then we have two games against the fifth-placed Asian team which I don’t think will be Australia but it could be Australia and then we’re in the World Cup.

"It’s another one that is quietly happening in the background. But potentially, with all this going on... it’s a very exciting time for football in New Zealand.”

While many A-League stars such as Perth’s Leo Bertos will be in the side, the All Whites also feature a number of European stars including Blackburn captain Ryan Nelson and Celtic’s Chris Killen as well as Andy Boyens and Duncan Oughton who play in the Major Soccer League.