All Whites star Chris Wood has slammed the state of New Zealand's action-starved program, demanding they play more often ahead of a rare date with the Socceroos.
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The sides will meet in Brisbane on Thursday and then Auckland on Sunday in what will incredibly be their first encounters since 2011.
Sunday's game will incredibly be the All Whites' first on home soil in nearly five years, the series marking 100 years since their first clash.
Falling just short in an agonising World Cup play-off loss to Costa Rica in June, New Zealand won't play again in November's international window due to budget constraints.
"It's extremely frustrating; we should not be missing opportunities or chances to play," Newcastle United striker Wood told reporters on Wednesday.
"Going forward this squad needs to be playing consistent football and optimising every window we've got.
"And it's been way too long since we've played Aussie."
Danny Hay could be in charge of his final two games, the coach's future to be decided next month.
"It's quite scary, isn't it?," he said of their lack of action.
"I've been in the job since late 2019, we played two internationals then didn't play against until October last year.
"Whether I'm in charge or somebody else is, this team needs to be playing in every single window.
"The team's evolved, playing different brand of football with an exciting group ... it's frustrating (the team isn't playing more often)."
Like the Socceroos, some players were only arriving in Brisbane on Wednesday.
They will still offer the Socceroos a stern test in their final game on home soil before November's World Cup in Qatar.
Torino midfielder Matt Garbett, Empoli fullback Liberato Cacace and FC Copenhagen's Marko Stamenic should all feature in a series that will serve as retiring captain Winston Reid's farewell.
"Were coming here to win the game; we've got the side capable of doing so," Wood said.
"They're no mugs, have done extremely well (to qualify for Qatar) but we've come to cause an upset."
Australian Associated Press
