Town centre-half Tommy Smith looks set to captain New Zealand in this month’s two-legged play-off against Mexico for a place at next summer's World Cup in Brazil. West Ham’s Winston Reid is the All Whites’ regular skipper but will miss both games due to an ankle injury.
Smith, who has previously worn the armband on a number of occasions, including at the OFC Nations Cup earlier this year, was named Reid's vice-captain when he was appointed in March.
Mexico, who finished fourth in the CONCACAF qualifying group, are at home at the 105,000-capacity Estadio Azteca in the first leg on Wednesday 13th November. New Zealand, who won the Oceania section, host the second at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium a week later.
Reid, 25, admitted that he is gutted to be sidelined: "I'm devastated about missing the games with country and club but these things happen sometimes. But hopefully will be there in NZ to support the boys. Get behind them!"
Smith, 23, has won 25 full caps, scoring two international goals, and played in all three of New Zealand's games at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, as well as at last summer's Olympics.
All Whites: Glen Moss (Wellington Phoenix), Jacob Spoonley (Wellington Phoenix), Tamati Williams (Auckland City), Andrew Durante (Wellington Phoenix), Tony Lochhead (Unattached), Storm Roux (Central Coast Mariners), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town), Bill Tuiloma (Olympique Marseille), Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Aaron Clapham (Canterbury Utd), Jeremy Christie (Unattached), Craig Henderson (Mjallby AIF), Chris James (Kuopion Palloseura), Michael McGlinchey (Central Coast Mariners), Kosta Barbarouses (Melbourne Victory), Jeremy Brockie (Wellington Phoenix), Rory Fallon (St Johnstone), Marco Rojas (VfB Stuttgart), Shane Smeltz (Perth Glory), Chris Wood (Leicester City).