Pritchett relishing Club World Cup test

Auckland City defender James Pritchett says he is relishing the prospect of facing Sanfrecce Hiroshima in a Club World Cup playoff on Thursday.

The Kiwi side qualified for the competition after overcoming Tahiti’s AS Tefana, and Pritchett is looking forward to a possible rematch against Al-Ahly in the quarter-finals.

Talking to FIFA.com Pritchett said: “I played Al-Ahly six years ago and what I remember about that game is how good (Mohamed) Aboutrika was. He scored from a free-kick in the second half and was everywhere.”

The defender is refusing to get too carried away, however, with Japanese opposition standing in their way.

“Our focus is very much on the game in front of us, and that is against Sanfrecce Hiroshima,” Pritchett said.

“After only having a 14-game domestic season, and with the Oceania Champions League being rescheduled, we will have to try and overcome (having such a short season) on the international stage.”

Auckland failed to make it to the quarter-final stage last year after bowing out in the playoffs.