Socceroos coach Graham Arnold says he's confirmed "about 15 or 16" spots in his World Cup squad, challenging the rest to book their ticket to Qatar from the unlikely venue of Eden Park on Sunday.
As many as seven Socceroos could debut against New Zealand in Auckland - including much-hyped teenager Garang Kuol - as Arnold considers crunch calls on his squad.
With an eye to the World Cup, Arnold has spared the majority of the starting XI that beat the All Whites 1-0 in Brisbane on Thursday from this the trip.
It's an unfamiliar bunch, including seven without caps; Keanu Baccus, Jason Cummings, Harrison Delbridge, Cameron Devlin, Tyrese Francois, Ryan Strain and Kuol.
A further eight have fewer than 10 international outings; Nathaniel Atkinson, Thomas Deng, Denis Genreau, Joel King, Mitchell Langerak, Conor Metcalfe, Marco Tilio and World Cup qualifying hero Andrew Redmayne.
Arnold insisted that didn't make them understrength.
"Please don't call them the B Team," Arnold told AAP.
"They're not the B Team. All these boys are fighting for a position to get on that plane."
They might not be the B Team, but they're instead a Plan B for the World Cup, which starts in less than two months.
The tournament's move to the northern hemisphere winter means there's no long lead-in.
In 2018, Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk had three weeks with the squad before the tournament opener, playing two friendlies in Europe and jetting to Turkey for a hot-weather training camp.
This time around, Arnold will next see his full squad in the Middle East just a week before facing France in their World Cup opener, with no time for other friendlies.
"It's just in and out ... they'll turn up in Qatar on the 14th and 15th, and we play the 22nd," Arnold said.
"I'd say about 15 or 16 players (I've already decided) are definitely going (in the 26-man World Cup squad).
"This game I'm using as a Plan B as I don't have time to prepare them like an ordinary World Cup.
"Just say someone does get injured on the weekend before we go in the camp. Well, I've got to have a backup plan. That's what this whole camp is for."
Arnold confirmed Bailey Wright was staying home to care for his new baby daughter, born last week, leaving the most experienced travellers as Mitchell Duke, Mat Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Riley McGree.
New Zealand coach Danny Hay said Arnold's move to rest stars only made Australia more dangerous.
"You've got a bunch of players fighting for their lives to make the World Cup squad. It's gonna be tougher for us. They're gonna be up for it," he said.
The All Blacks' house of pain has never hosted international football before, but Kiwis have shown their enthusiasm for the occasion.
More than 30,000 tickets have been sold for New Zealand's first home game in five years, which is not a send-off for the World Cup, but instead for All Whites stalwart Winston Reid, retiring from international football.
The match is scheduled the night after the Bledisloe Cup, raising fears of an ordinary playing surface.
"I'm not thrilled about it," Arnold said, "but it's the way it is and it's the same for both teams so let's just get on with it."
