As this year's FIFA World Cup fast approaches, Kiwi footballers plying their trade overseas are hoping to catch the eye of All Whites head coach Darren Beazley.
It's set to be an important few months for New Zealand's contingent of professional footballers, who are all vying for a coveted seat on the plane to Los Angeles in June, where the All Whites will face Iran in their first World Cup game in more than 15 years.
One of them is goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, currently playing with Lechia Gdańsk in Poland's top flight while on loan from Premier League side Bournemouth.
The former Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC man was in the squad that defeated New Caledonia to secure New Zealand's spot at the tournament. He was on the bench while Millwall's starting keeper, Max Crocombe, started.
It's set to be an important few months for New Zealand's contingent of professional footballers. (Source: 1News)
Paulsen told 1News that the upcoming World Cup was "always going to be on the back of your mind".
"Each performance that you do for your club contributes towards hopefully getting a look at being selected for the All Whites going into the World Cup this year.
"I think for me personally, it's just trying to focus on my football, and if I'm having fun and I'm smiling, and I'm able to have those types of characteristics.
"I know that I'll be able to play well to the best of my abilities and put my name in the hat to get selected."
Paulsen said both All Whites head coach Darren Bazely and goalkeeping coach Paul Gothard had been in touch to see how he was doing.
He said going to the World Cup to play was "every kid's dream".
"I think it's an absolute privilege, not just to represent your country, but also just to be at that world stage, at that global stage where everybody's watching you.
"Hopefully, we can cause an upset or make certain saves against some top-profile players as well."
Another Kiwi footballer whose performances have attracted attention is winger Eli Just, currently signed with Motherwell, who are sitting fourth in the Scottish Premiership. Just has been in good form since signing with the club, scoring six goals and becoming part of the side's starting lineup.
He said his club's and his personal performance this season had "exceeded expectations".
"When I joined at the beginning of the year, if you told me the position the team was going to be in, and my role in that, I would have been absolutely ecstatic."
He said the World Cup wasn't something he was really thinking about.
"I think the focus has been so much on the club games, but as we creep towards the World Cup, it obviously starts getting bigger and bigger."
Just said the March international window, when the All Whites play two matches in Auckland, would likely be a point where things start feeling "a little bit more real".
"As it gets closer, you can't help but think about it. And I'm just hoping I can continue my form and stay fit.
"And then, yeah, just, it's just so exciting. I think the magnitude of the World Cup, it won't sink in until we're there."
The All Whites play their final games in New Zealand on March 27 and March 30, taking on Finland and Chile, respectively.
In June, the squad will head to the States to take on one of the tournament favourites, England, on June 6 in Florida.
Then, 10 days later, on June 16, New Zealand will start its campaign in LA's Inglewood.
All New Zealand games at the FIFA World Cup will be available to watch live and free from home on TVNZ+ and TVNZ1.
SHARE ME