Team Wellington

They will be joined in the last eight by Fiji's Ba FC, who beat Kiwi FC 5-1 to leapfrog Erakor into second place in the group thanks to their superior goal difference.

With their qualification destiny out of their hands, Ba FC's main goal was to ensure they do their part by defeating Kiwi FC before hoping for Team Wellington to do them a favour by overcoming Erakor at Port Vila's Korman Stadium.

Drawn into Group C, alongside Vanuatu’s National Super League grand final champions Erakor Golden Star, Samoa National League champions and Qualifying tournament runners-up Kiwi FC, Team Wellington will kick of their title defence with Saturday’s group opener against Fiji Premier League runners-up Ba FC at Port Vila’s Korman Stadium.

Following their arrival at Bauerfield International Airport, Jose Figueira’s troops from the New Zealand capital could not hide their excitement about the task ahead of them.

This was confirmed this week after the official draw was held at the OFC Academy in Auckland, New Zealand, giving the quarter final match-ups, the semi-finals and finals.

Team Wellington, who topped Group D in Honiara at the weekend, will welcome Group A runners-up Lae City Dwellers to Wellington. This match is set for April 7.

Solomon Warriors, runners-up in Group B, will again find themselves on the road as they also travel to New Zealand to play reigning champions Auckland City FC.

RNZI reports most of the goal-mouth action took place in the day's opening game, Auckland keeping their hopes of a sixth consecutive title alive with a 4-2 victory over Tahitian side AS Tefana.

The second match was a far tenser affair, New Caledonia's AS Magenta shading the possession but struggling to get their noses in front before Wellington secured the win with a couple of quick-fire late goals to win 2-0.