The match at North Harbour Stadium comes during a 12-day camp for New Zealand and Australian-based players and will be the only opportunity to see All Whites players line up for a match on New Zealand soil before the World Cup.

New Zealand’s full World Cup squad assembles in Auckland on May 19 and departs three days later for a mouth-watering trans-Tasman showdown against Australia at the MCG on May 24.

Waitakere United’s Neil Emblen and Auckland City’s Paul Posa will jointly select and coach an All Star team drawn from the New Zealand’s eight national league franchises.

The match is likely to double as a World Cup trial for players on both sides with new faces like Aaron Clapham included in the New Zealand training group while recent All Whites like Aaron Scott, Chad Coombes and Jason Hayne are strong contenders for the All Stars and can use the game to write one more entry into the selection notes of All Whites coaching staff.

“It’s very much a chance for them to push their claims,” said All Whites coach Ricki Herbert.

The game is also likely to feature the best Oceania talent like YoungHeart Manawatu’s golden boot winner Seule Soromon (Vanuatu) and Waitakere duo Benji Totori (Solomon Islands) and Roy Krishna (Fiji) but coaches Emblen and Posa have been given a mandate to look at young kiwi talent as well.
Selections for the NZFC XI will be announced next week.

New Zealand selection v NZFC XI
North Harbour Stadium
2pm, May 9