With away goals counting double, it is imperative that the All Whites keep a clean sheet in the second leg of their winner-takes-all play-off with Bahrain.

Australia's passage to the 2006 tournament was eventually decided by a shoot-out with goalkeeper Schwarzer as much a hero as John Aloisi.

Paston is already prepared for the fact that the tie could come down to penalties and he will be ready for that situation.

The Wellington Phoenix custodian will relish that scenario should it come about.

"If it boils down to that, great," he told the Dominion Post.

"My job's to keep the ball out of the net and obviously that's going to be pretty important, obviously with the away goals rule, so we're going to obviously need to keep a clean sheet which is going to be tough, so that's what I'm focusing on at the moment."

The All Whites will take penalties at training as part of their preparations for the clash.