Fiji amateurs prepare for Hail Mary shot at qualifying for World Cup

Preparing an amateur squad featuring policemen, builders and transport workers, Fiji manager Rob Sherman is under no illusions about the task at hand as the Pacific islanders look to pull off the unthinkable and qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Fiji need to beat far-better resourced New Zealand in Wellington on March 21 in the semi-finals of Oceania qualifying.

The reward for that would be a match against either New Caledonia or Tahiti three days later at Eden Park for a direct ticket to the 2026 showpiece in North America.

Upsetting New Zealands professionals might amount to Fijis finest moment in soccer, never mind the World Cup.

While lacking New Zealands skill and fitness levels, Fiji can match them for enthusiasm, said Sherman.

Well, lets make no excuses -- its going to be a very tough encounter, the former Melbourne Victory assistant coach told Reuters on Thursday.

I mean, theyre professionals and were a team full of amateurs, if were honest.

So we have to accept the fact that its likely that theyll have the vast majority of possession. So its how we play without the ball thats a factor.

Fiji are holding a training camp in Auckland over the next few days before they head to Wellington next week to continue preparations.

The mood in the camp is good, even without 37-year-old talisman Roy Krishna, the highest scoring and most-capped Fiji player of all time.

One of few Fijians to carve out a successful career in the professional ranks, Krishna is unavailable for the qualifier due to a knee injury.

It is a blow for a squad that toils largely in obscurity in a nation renowned for its rugby talent.

Funding is tight and securing the services of players can be a challenge.

Shermans squad, which contains several policemen,