All White defender faces Italian strike power

SHANE WENZLICK/Manukau Courier

BACK ON: Ben Sigmund had off-season hip surgery and has not played a match since the Wellington Phoenix's A-League campaign ended in January, but that is about to change.

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As if facing football's world champions wasn't daunting enough, All White Ben Sigmund is set to be thrust under the spotlight in his first game back from injury.

Sigmund had off-season hip surgery and has not played a match since the Wellington Phoenix's A-League campaign ended in January, but that is about to change.

The nuggety defender is set to be chucked in the deep end when New Zealand play their final Confederations Cup warmup match, against Italy in Pretoria tomorrow morning, provided he comes through the final two training sessions.

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert has little option but to start his No1 centre back.

He will be expecting Sigmund to play a major role in the Confederations Cup, but he does not want him to go into the opening match against Spain cold.

So Italy and marking the likes of Luca Toni it is likely to be.

"He's a lot more freer and he's been looking good, so fingers crossed we're still on track for him to take part in everything from now," said Herbert, who believed starting Sigmund was probably a safer bet than bringing him on as a substitute, so he could at least be replaced of things went wrong.

New Zealand haven't had an ideal preparation off the field and a loss and draw against middle-of-the-road but not easy-beat African sides Tanzania and Botswana certainly won't have caused Marcello Lippi's Italians any sleepless nights.

Italy are coming off a 3-0 win against Northern Ireland in Pisa on Sunday and are expected to field a near full-strength team.

For New Zealand, realistically, the match is all about damage limitation, while providing Herbert who is expected to employ a more defensive-oriented 4-4-1-1 formation with a chance to play his best starting XI ahead of Monday's cup opener.

Glen Moss is expected to nudge out Mark Paston in goal, while the recalled Ivan Vicelich has impressed in warmup matches and will start, with Tony Lochhead at left back and, probably, David Mulligan on the right. Andy Boyens will probably get the call-up should Sigmund fall at the final hurdle.

Three midfield spots appear to be locked in, with captain Tim Brown and veteran Simon Elliott operating in the middle, and the speedy Leo Bertos on one flank.

Jeremy Brockie might get the nod on the other flank.

Shane Smeltz will play in the hole behind striker Chris Killen, just the second time New Zealand's top two strikers would have started a senior international together.

The All Whites are not delusional they know expectations are as low as they get, but Herbert is hoping they can "go out and play a part in the game".

"Our best team against the fifth-best Asian team in October is what I'm looking at, but we've got these two big games to deal with and, whether we have 5 per cent of the game or 20 per cent, we've got to be good with everything we do."

HOW THEY LINE UP

When: Tomorrow, 6.45am NZT TV: live on Sky Sport 2 from 6.30am

New Zealand (likely): Glen Moss, Tony Lochhead, Ben Sigmund, Ivan Vicelich, David Mulligan, Simon Elliott, Tim Brown , Leo Bertos, Jeremy Brockie, Shane Smeltz, Chris Killen. Subs from: Mark Paston, Aaron Scott, Duncan Oughton, Andy Barron, Jeremy Christie, Chris James, Steven Old, Chris Wood, Kris Bright, Jarrod Smith, James Bannatyne.

Italy (from): Gianluigi Buffon, Davide Santon, Fabio Grosso, Giorgio Chiellini, Fabio Cannavaro, Nicola Legrottaglie, Simone Pepe, Gennaro Gattuso, Luca Toni, Daniele De Rossi, Alberto Gilardino, Morgan De Sanctis, Alessandro Gamberini, Marco Amelia, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Mauro Camoranesi, Giuseppe Rossi, Angelo Palombo, Gianluca Zambrotta, Riccardo Montolivo, Andrea Pirlo, Andrea Dossena.

- © Fairfax NZ News