Waitakere United, an amateur club in existence for less than three years, edged out Fijian side Ba to qualify as Oceania representatives for the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan this December. The first test for the side from New Zealand's fifth-largest city will be a preliminary qualifier against a top Japanese outfit yet to be determined on 7 December. In what will surely be the biggest game in the club's short history, a win would see them into the quarter-finals - and a date with heavyweights AC Milan, Boca Juniors or Pachuca.

"It's a just a once in a lifetime experience," captain Danny Hay, no stranger to big games having played in the UEFA Champions League with Leeds and 28 times for New Zealand, told FIFA.com. "Losing is always a fear and we know we're carrying the Oceania flag. It will be tough playing against seasoned professionals, but we're just going to have to go out and do the best we can."

Although most will, not everyone in the side will be unfamiliar with the rigours of a FIFA Club World Cup. Recent signings Darren Bazeley and Neil Emblen both lined up at last year's global club showpiece with fellow Kiwis Auckland City. And Hay, for one, sees these signings as crucial given the tests to come.

"Going to the Club World Cup we will need all the experience we can get and the sort of acquisitions we've got like Bazeley and Emblen will help a lot," he said. "Players like that are going to be invaluable, especially those players that went to the World Cup in Japan in 2006. They've been there, done that."

Hay, now 32, is the man with the most significant big-game experience in coach Chris Milicich's side. His past will prepare him for the media circus awaiting the Kiwi outsiders on his first visit to Japan, but some of the younger players are in for a surprise. Still, the captain is sure they will be up to the task of handling anything that comes their way on and off the pitch.

No fear
"It will be a whirlwind experience for some of the boys," Hay said with a smile. "I've been a part of the FIFA Confederations Cup (with New Zealand) and the Champions League (with Leeds) and it's a real buzz. The lads just have to go out and enjoy it, not fear it because it might not ever happen again."

When asked which team he thinks are favourites to take home the world club crown from Japan, the veteran refuses to even consider his side's chances. Instead, he looks to the traditional powerhouses and marvels over the skill the South Americans.

"AC Milan are going to be tough to beat," he said. "But South American sides are always going to be tough. I've played against Brazil with New Zealand, and crikey! Personally, I'd rather play against the European champions than the South American champions - they're so skilful and quick."

Hay also knows he and his Oceania boys will not be able to match the Europeans and South Americans for talent and technique, but he insists Waitakere will be no soft touch.

"We will dig in, fight and battle", he said with an air of proud authority. "I think we'll struggle to match the other sides technically and hold the ball for a long time. That's where teams from New Zealand and Oceania in general tend to struggle. We'll have to be really well-organised defensively and come off the pitch with no regrets."