The draw for the World Cup takes place in South Africa later this Friday, with several Rovers stars keeping a close eye on events in Cape Town.

The likes of Benni McCarthy, Elrio van Heerden, Lars Jacobsen, Vince Grella, Brett Emerton, Paul Robinson and Ryan Nelsen will be watching on with keen interest.

For the Rovers captain Nelsen, he can't wait to see who New Zealand will be facing.

"I've not really looked at the draw options to tell the truth," said the Kiwi.

"Everyone is hoping for a favourable draw but I think a lot of teams will be looking to get us in their draw.

"But it is the same with us, we don't want to go there and make up numbers. We've got a decent team.

"The team we beat on the way here had beaten Japan and had beaten Korea, they were a really good, so we aren't that easy to beat.

"So we are looking forward to a favourable draw and hopefully some teams take us too lightly and you never know, there could be a few upsets."

Whilst it might disappoint everyone back home in New Zealand, the one team that Ryan isn't too keen on facing would be England.

"I hope not because I'm sick of playing those players week in, week out. They are very good.

"In all honesty I'd like to avoid them, but if we have to play then it would be something special because the ex-pats in New Zealand.

"There are a lot of English in New Zealand and I think that would probably be the draw that most people would like to pick, but in all honesty I hope they miss us."