Town centre-half Tommy Smith is set to captain New Zealand in their World Cup qualifier against Tahiti in Papeete on Friday with regular skipper Ryan Nelsen not joining up with the squad until after that match due to a knee injury. Smith previously captained the All Whites at the Oceania Nations Cup in the summer when the Tahitians ran out surprise winners.

New Zealand, who have won their first two qualifiers, face Tahiti again on Tuesday, this time at home in Christchurch, and victory in both games will take Ricki Herbert’s side close to an intercontinental play-off with a CONCACAF nation for a place at Brazil 2014.

Smith, who has won 18 full caps, says he’d be proud to be handed the armband: “I'd be honoured if Ricki asked me to be captain again but that's entirely up to Ricki and whether Ryan is passed fit to play in time for either of these games. We're still hoping Ryan will be out here.”

QPR man Nelsen looks set to be back for the home game, a match which will be played on new territory for the Blues defender: "I've never actually been to the South Island, I lived in the North during my time in New Zealand, but it will be good for me.

"Regardless of who is captain, it's an experience I'm looking forward to and I'm sure it will be quite an occasion following the difficult times the Christchurch community continues to go through after the earthquakes.

"I've heard the crowd's quite good down there, to lead the team out on to the field would be very special indeed.

"The most important goal though is maximum points from these next two games, and if we apply ourselves, there's no reason why we can't do that."

Turning to domestic matters, Smith says he’s confident that Town will start turning their season around soon: "My form's not been too bad.

“It's not been so good a start to the season unfortunately, but the lads are still in high spirits. It's not like we're getting thrashed, we're playing well, we're just not quite getting the results we want.

“It will come good soon enough, it's a tough division with a lot of games. Hooking up with the national team again is good and the international window can often be a bit of a reset button for club teams."

Midfielder Josh Carson is the only other Town player away with an international squad at present. Northern Ireland take on Portugal away on Tuesday, also in a World Cup qualifier.

Meanwhile, Town chief executive Simon Clegg has been representing the club at the Leaders in Football conference at Stamford Bridge for the last couple of days.

Photo: Action Images

Pessimistic added 11:17 - Oct 11 Hope Tommy does us proud! Being a centre half means a long learning curve but this sort of experience won't do him any harm.
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PortmanTerrorist added 11:20 - Oct 11 Wonder if NZ would give up on TS so quickly if they had someone of the ability of Luke Chambers to replace him ! Suspect not....that would be crazy !
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levington added 12:08 - Oct 11 Only 25,000miles and 70 hours on a plane! Surely NZ has someone in NZ that can put on a show against a country with a population of under 200,000.
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Marcus added 12:46 - Oct 11 I'm concerned that all this travelling has left him a little jaded. Perhaps he needs a rest to find his form again.
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TheJam added 12:58 - Oct 11 Amusing that he can't get in his club team at the moment.
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brian_a_mul added 13:38 - Oct 11 Why is that amusing?? Its not that he cant get in the team, he was in the team until very recently! He diddnt get a break over the summer and had an average start to the season. With the team leaking goals and lacking def numbers, we brought in Higgingbotham. Higgs is more experienced, fresher and a better defender (at the moment) than Tommy. With Higgs starting recent games it will have given Tommy a break. Like the others, I hope the extensive travel is not damaging his immediate performances at club level. Its a squad game and Im sure Tommy will get plenty of games over the season.

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michael99 added 13:42 - Oct 11 only goes to prove my point about the standard of international football qualifiers if a player not even league 1 standard could skipper a team,i wonder is alb has some nz heritage as he could be their number1 and vice captain.smith will never be any good as long as he has a hole in his bum in my opinion ,and is an absolute liability.
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RetroBlue added 14:22 - Oct 11 tbh Im not a bit intereseted in TS's International travels. Ipswich Town FC are his employers and where it matters, on the pitch for THIS CLUB, Smith has been less than convincing. He is a League One player at best.....and the way things are going for this Club he should feel far more comfortable playing in the first team (assuming he keeps his place), next season!
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newtownfan13 added 15:56 - Oct 11 Congratualtions Tommy, what an honour to play for your country and wear the captain's armband, hope you and young Carson do your countries proud, good enough to play for your countries but bench warmers at Ipswich, hmmmmmmm I wonder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!................
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levington added 18:52 - Oct 11 How did Jewell start the season with Smith as his number one CB when he new he would regularly travelliing to NZ to play games?
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Talbs77 added 19:32 - Oct 11 Sorry but at this moment in time Smith is stuggling, much like he did last year. He may be a late develper and come good when he gets a bit older and plays more games. But that wont be from travelling thousands of miles playing against tahiti!
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hairbear added 09:55 - Oct 12 Smiths biggest problem is confidence and, if like we have been saying for 2 years now we bought a quality, experienced cb in and had a good man manager in charge he would become a club hero. JEWELL OUT!!!
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