The winner of the match at a sold-out Westpac Stadium in Wellington will advance to the 2010 World Cup finals after the side's battled out a 0-0 draw in Manama, with Bahrain failing to convert several clear-cut chances.
Despite the stalemate, Bahrain coach Milan Macala said the match had been a tremendous learning experience for his side as they had only previously seen the All Whites on television.
"The first half, because we (had) not experienced them... we played very carefully," Macala told reporters on Friday.
"The second half we played very good and I think we were a better team.
"We created five opportunities and should have scored two. If we were sitting here at 2-0 then we would be in a much better situation.
"At 0-0, then its not a bad result but we still have to be very careful when we play."
Macala, whose light-hearted personality was evident throughout the news conference, however, refused to divulge exactly what he had learned from last month's match.
"Its a secret," he said when asked what he thought the All Whites' weaknesses were.
"I can't tell you," he then replied with a chuckle when asked what the Oceania champions' strengths might be.
"Everything," he deadpanned before adding "the strikers. (Chris) Killen. (Shane) Smeltz. Good. Talented."
"Our outcome is very clear. We need to win... (and) goals are the priority," Herbert said. "I don't care if it goes 120 minutes, we will be going the distance."
"I like what I've seen," he said.
"There's a very good spring in everybody's step, there's a very positive approach to everything we've done."
