Soccer-All Whites expected at full strength for World Cup match

By Greg Stutchbury

WELLINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert should have a full-strength squad to choose from for the All Whites' deciding Asia/Oceania World Cup qualifier second leg against Bahrain on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Mark Paston and midfielders Michael McGlinchey and Simon Elliott arrived in Wellington for the team's final preparations with slight injuries, however Herbert told reporters he expected all three to take full part in the team's first training run later on Tuesday (0330 GMT).

There were no other injury concerns in the squad and if any occurred in the build up Herbert added he would give every player until just before kickoff the opportunity to prove their fitness.

Blackburn Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen and Gold Coast striker Shane Smeltz arrived in Wellington late on Monday, with Celtic's Chris Killen the last of Herbert's 18-man squad expected later on Tuesday.

The match at Westpac Stadium has sold out with capacity increased by 1,000 temporary seats to 35,500 after unprecedented interest following the 0-0 draw in Manama last month, with the winner advancing to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

New Zealand have made just one previous World Cup finals, in Spain in 1982, while Bahrain are bidding to qualify for the first time.

Herbert said while there had not been much time to prepare as a squad for the match, the benefits of a four-year plan would probably hold the team in good stead.

"We have had the same challenge (of lack of preparation) for the last four years, so it's not new," he told reporters in Wellington. "The continuity of the players we have had, certainly over the last 12 months, will help.