Tommy Smith and Monty Patterson’s New Zealand get their Confederations Cup campaign under way this afternoon when they face hosts Russia in the competition’s opening match in St Petersburg (ITV from 3.30pm, KO 4pm).

Centre-half Smith, 27, will start, while 20-year-old midfielder or striker Patterson is more likely to be a sub.

In their other group games New Zealand will face Mexico in Sochi on Wednesday and then Portugal back in St Petersburg next Saturday.

New Zealand are relative minnows at the tournament but Smith says he is confident they will give the Russians a tough afternoon.

“We think we can cause them some problems,“ he said. “It’s going to be a big occasion for Russia playing in front of their home fans and opening the tournament, so hopefully the pressure will get to them.”

Speaking in March, Smith was looking forward to the competition having represented the All Whites, who he qualifies for having lived there between the ages of eight and 16, at the 2010 World Cup and 2012 Olympics.

“It will be another competition ticked off my international list, having already played in the World Cup and the Olympics," he said.

“Testing myself against that calibre of player will be good. Cristiano Ronaldo could be involved and I’ll be testing myself against one of the very best in the world.”

Smith has previously won 32 caps, scoring two international goals, while Patterson, who is yet to make his senior debut for the Blues, has been capped on 11 occasions, scoring once.

Former Blues loanee Chris Wood, now with Leeds, is captaining the New Zealand squad in Russia with regular skipper, West Ham's Winston Reid, absent through injury.

The last time an All Whites side met a Russian team was at the 1982 World Cup when the USSR ran out 3-0 winners with future Town man Sergei Baltacha among the scorers.

All Whites: Stefan Marinovic (SpVgg Unterhaching), Tamati Williams (RKC Waalwijk), Glen Moss (Newcastle Jets), Andrew Durante (Wellington Phoenix), Thomas Doyle (Wellington Phoenix), Storm Roux (Central Coast Mariners), Michael Boxall (SuperSport Utd), Kip Colvey (San Jose Earthquakes), Themi Tzimopoulos (PAS Giannina), Deklan Wynne (Vancouver Whitecaps), Sam Brotherton (Sunderland), Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town), Dane Ingham (Brisbane Roar), Bill Tuiloma (Marseille), Clayton Lewis (Auckland City), Michael McGlinchey (Wellington Phoenix), Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle), Marco Rojas (Melbourne Victory), Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix), Chris Wood (c) (Leeds Utd), Monty Patterson (Ipswich Town), Shane Smeltz (Borneo), Kosta Barbarouses (unattached).

Photos: TWTD

legoman added 10:33 - Jun 17 Kundai and Monty are first teamers for us this season imo. Hope Monty gets a good runout this afternoon.
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