New Football Ferns coach Jitka Klimková is being thrown in the deep end with matches against Olympic champions Canada next month.
The Football Ferns will face Canada in two games in late October. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Klimková's first games in charge on 24 and 27 October will feature Football Ferns predominately plying their trade in Europe and North America as Covid-19 travel restrictions prevent players from New Zealand and Australia taking part.
Klimková said the games were more about her stamping her mark on the team than the opposition.
"The main goal for us in Canada is really to be clear how do we want to play, to be clear about the roles for the players on the field and off the field, so we are going to really focus mainly on us.
"Of course we will be prepared how to play against Canada but the main goal for us is to focus on us."
Klimková wants the Football Ferns to find the back of the net more often - starting with the matches in Ottawa and Montreal against the Tokyo Olympic gold medalists.
"I'm a very attacking orientated coach who loves to have the ball on our feet and control the game a little bit more, but what we need to have for that is very organised and tough defence that is hard to breakdown."
She is confident that she will have the players available to execute her plans even if the side is younger than it has been in the past and missing some of the players based Down Under.
The former Czech Republic defender has experience working with up and coming New Zealand players having coached the New Zealand side at the FIFA 2014 U-17 Women's World Cup and served as assistant coach to the women's U-20s and the Football Ferns.
"We will give a lot of opportunity to the young ones and I think it is great for them to be seen, they have chance to shine during the tour and during the sessions they will have a chance to really understand how we want to play in the future and that's a good advantage for them."
It is not only Klimková who is looking to the future.
New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell said the games against Canada were an important first step for building towards the home World Cup in 2023.
"Despite the challenges posed to international football by the Covid-19 pandemic, it's vitally important that we are able to get Jitka and the squad together, and begin planning a route to success in 2023," he said.
"Our expectation is that all future international windows for the Football Ferns will be filled, and filled with high quality opposition.
"The preparation for our opening game at Eden Park starts now, and opponents don't get much higher quality than Olympic Gold medallists."
Canada is a familiar opponent to the Football Ferns, with the two sides having met 13 times, including at World Cups.
There is also links off the field with Canada head coach Bev Priestman having previously worked for New Zealand Football from 2009-2013.
Priestman was heavily involved in developing the national strategy for women's football and the Whole of Football plan, along with former Football Ferns head coach John Herdman, now Canada men's team head coach.
Klimková's delayed arrival into New Zealand is working in the team's favour.
Klimková was to arrive in Aotearoa to take up her new role instead she is still in the Czech Republic due to the pandemic.
As the Football Ferns build their playing schedule ahead of the World Cup Klimková said she was in the right place right now - even though she is keen to get to New Zealand.
"When I am in Europe I am a little bit more free to travel and for us now it is really important to focus on the tours and we already have one tour confirmed [Canada] and we are already working on another tour in November and hopefully in the beginning of 2022 as well."