Olympics the prize as under 23s take on Islanders

New Zealand's bid to get a men's soccer team to the Olympics for the second time kicks off this afternoon. The Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament has slipped under the radar a little but offers the winner of the March 24 final direct entry to the London Olympics. While the Olywhites start as favourites to clinch a return trip to an Olympic Games, the island nations see the under-23 tournament as a chance to stake a claim on the international stage. While most of the countries would concede a World Cup is beyond them, they consider age-group tournaments their best chance of success within the Oceania Confederation. The tournament marks the first time since 1996 that a New Zealand-based OFC event has been held outside Auckland but the home side is likely to receive plenty of support in a region that has seldom seen international action. The hosts start their campaign with what may be their toughest test when they tackle Frank Farina-coached Papua New Guinea. After a bye on Sunday, the Neil Emblen-coached New Zealanders play Tonga on Tuesday. Emblen has to do without a number of overseas-based players for the qualifiers but will have Marco Rojas available for the game against Tonga and then the semifinals and final. Goalkeeper Jake Gleeson and Welsh-based striker Greg Draper are in the squad along with James Musa and Cameron Lindsay, who have been or are on the books at the Wellington Phoenix. This afternoon's clash with PNG brings the two highest-profile coaches at the tournament head-to-head with Emblen, a rookie at this level, up against Farina, who coached the Socceroos for six years after a distinguished playing career. Farina has an exciting group of players including the midfield pairing of Emmanuel Simon and Nigel Dabinyaba, and New Zealand-based striker Alwin Komolong, who captained his country at the OFC under-20 Championship in April last year. The hardest task confronting Emblen, who Ricki Herbert this week confirmed will coach the team at the Olympics if they win this tournament, will be telling some players they will not be going to London to make way for All Whites Chris Wood, Tommy Smith and Kosta Barbarouses, who will be automatic selections.