The match between the Oceania champions and the Arabian island nation is the first leg of a home and away playoff with the return leg at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on November 14 and the overall winner progressing to the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

Herbert regards the team naming as the most important in his career with New Zealand's national side and claims it to be the most important game the All Whites have played since last qualifying for the World Cup in 1982.

"This is absolutely the biggest one yet," Herbert said. "You know we've had opportunities over the last four years to shape the team to where it's got to now.

"It's an incredibly important couple of fixtures and I'm delighted to be able to name the squad."

Ryan Nelsen will captain the side that is relatively unchanged from the squad that notched a 3-1 victory over Jordan in Amman in September.

Striker Rory Fallon and attacking midfielder Michael McGlinchey retain their places after impressive debuts in that match while Chris Killen and Chris Wood come back into the mix after missing the last match through injury.

The only change from the squad named for Jordan is the addition of Auckland City's Jacob Spoonley as goalkeeping cover for Mark Paston and James Bannatyne.

Glen Moss is the only player unavailable for selection due to a four-match World Cup suspension earned in the All Whites' final Oceania group qualifier against Fiji in November 2008.

Moss' unavailability aside, Herbert has finally enjoyed the luxury of a fully fit squad to choose from, something that had so far eluded the All Whites boss.

"I think that's been the biggest frustrations over my time is not been able to have the best side together for a long period of time but the flipside is that some other players have been given opportunities and some have really solidified their position in the team," said Herbert.

"Touch wood that we go into training in Dubai with a full complement of players as that will be important to the outcome in Manama as well."

Nelsen, McGlinchey, Fallon and Spoonley are the only players in the squad who didn't travel to South Africa for the FIFA Confederations Cup in June, with Moss, Kris Bright, Chris James, Steven Old, Duncan Oughton, Jeremy Brockie and Jeremy Christie dropping out in for this smaller squad.

Bahrain enters the fixture match-hardened by an 18-game qualifying campaign but Herbert believes this will be a positive for New Zealand.

He added: "Bahrain had to put their best foot forward against Saudi Arabia so that information is fresh and current. We've broken down that information and will roll it out to the players.

"We're pretty comfortable. Raul Blanco, Brian Turner and I have done a lot of research and as soon as we hit that first training session in Dubai we'll be rolling out what we think is going to be important for the first game."

All Whites team to play Bahrain:

Goalkeepers:

James BANNATYNE (Team Wellington)
Mark PASTON (Wellington Phoenix)
Jacob SPOONLEY (Auckland City )

Defenders:

Andrew BOYENS (New York Red Bulls)
Tony LOCHHEAD (Wellington Phoenix )
David MULLIGAN (Wellington Phoenix )
Ryan NELSEN (Captain, Blackburn Rovers)
Aaron SCOTT (Waitakere United)
Ben SIGMUND (Wellington Phoenix)
Ivan VICELICH (Auckland City)

Midfielders:

Andy BARRON (Team Wellington)
Leo BERTOS (Wellington Phoenix)
Tim BROWN (Wellington Phoenix)
Simon ELLIOTT (San Jose Earthquakes)
Michael MCGLINCHEY (Central Coast Mariners)

Forwards:

Rory FALLON (Plymouth Argyle)
Chris KILLEN (Celtic)
Shane SMELTZ (Gold Coast United)
Chris WOOD (West Bromwich Albion)