"One hundred percent we should be in Asia," the Waitakere United defender told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"As much as it's been great for New Zealand football and Waitakere has benefited from it with a free route into the club world cup, I'm a firm believer that if our game is going to progress we need to be swallowed up by Asia.

"Playing those quality Asian sides in the long-run will improve us as a nation. But it's the only way for our nation to move forward.

"You're playing regularly for the national sides and clubs and you're getting that flow on effect. If we can beat the island nations but get a whopping at the club world cup or the World Cup, it's because you're not playing regularly."

And this may smooth over concerns expressed by AFC president Mohamed Bin Hamamm about Wellington Phoenix's presence in the A-League, says Hay.

"Those comments may be just to keep an extra Australian side out," he said. "He might be clutching at straws to find some reason, but it would take care of that problem."

New Zealand get a chance to show AFC they're worthy when Waitakere United - the Oceania champion - travel to the Club World Cup in Japan next month.

First off is the play-in qualification match against Adelaide United and a very tough ask. But if the impossible happens, Waitakere will face Asian Champions Gamba Osaka.

Hay says it's all about giving New Zealand credibility in front of Asia's powerbrokers.

"We're doing it for Oceania, and their spot at the Club World Cup is under threat. No doubt," says Hay, who works as a media pundit in New Zealand.

"We know we have to perform a heck of a lot better than last year where we conceded two goals in the opening 20 minutes before losing 3-1.

"It's about gaining credibility for Oceania, us, Phoenix - all of New Zealand."

To prepare for Japan, Waitakere will play a warm up game in China but have cancelled their game against a Sydney FC selection.

Waitakere will look to Hay and former NZ Knights defender Neil Emblen to hold it together defensively. Up front, the rising star of Fiji football Roy Krishna could be a handful.

Krishna bagged two goals on Wednesday as Fiji defeated an under-strength All-Whites 2-0 in the nations' final Oceania group qualifier.

New Zealand had already qualified to play Asia's fifth best nation.