All Whites captain Winston Reid has spoken for the first time about the challenge of their daunting World Cup qualifiers in November.
The All Whites will face the fifth-ranked South American side in an intercontinental playoff, with the winner advancing through to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Currently, Argentina are sitting in fifth on 24 points with two matches remaining - but that spot is wide open, with only seven points separating the second and eighth-placed teams.
All the teams the All Whites could play are ranked inside the top 40, but Reid fancies New Zealand's chances against two of their potential opponents.
"It is difficult to say, but we'd like to take our changes against a team like Peru or Paraguay," said Reid.
"But we will have to wait and see what pops out and take it from there. We will be ready to play whoever it is against."
If the All Whites are to face Argentina in the intercontinental playoff, it would mean a number of the best players in the world - including Lionel Messi - will likely be making the trip to New Zealand for the first of two legs.
Reid admitted he has never faced Messi before, and said it would take a team effort to shut down the 30-year-old.
"He is obviously the best in the world and one of the best of all time. It is a difficult task," he said.
"You would have to first and foremost do your best, but you can't do it single-handedly - it has to be as a team collective and still then, if he plays towards his best, it is difficult.
"But you have to work together as a team, close him down and do your best."
Reid is currently with West Ham in the English Premier League, but it has been a tough start to the 2017/18 season.
After four games, the Hammers sit 18th on the ladder with one win from four games, and have conceded 10 goals - the worst in the league.
They won their only game in their most recent fixture against the newly promoted Huddersfield, and Reid felt like that win will go a long way to motivating the team.
"We haven't started the season in the best way but we dealt with the pressure well on Monday. We approached the game the right way," he explained.
"We were lacking confidence but it only takes a couple of wins to get that back.
"We have always had a good ground of guys around the club and that has been one of our best strengths. We just need to turn out some better performances."
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