New Zealand to double down on Ingham brothers

New Zealand are set to name Australia-born brothers Jai and Dane Ingham in their squad this week for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Fiji.

Melbourne Victory winger Jai and Brisbane Roar full-back Dane were both born in Lismore, New South Wales but qualify for New Zealand and Samoa through their mother.

Goal understands 23-year-old Jai will be included when All Whites coach Anthony Hudson reveals his latest squad this week, while Dane, 17, is on the fringes of selection.

Victory's Ingham eligible for New Zealand

The selection of the older Ingham will leave Victory without their starting front four when they visit Brisbane Roar on March 25, with James Troisi having earned a Socceroos recall on Wednesday, while Besart Berisha and Marco Rojas will be away with Kosovo and New Zealand, respectively.

New Zealand visit Fiji on March 25 and then host the Pacific Island nation three days later in their final two matches in Group B of Oceania's third round of World Cup qualification.

The All Whites need a minimum of four points from those two games to advance to Oceania's final qualifying play-off, with the winner of that two-legged tie set to play South America's fifth-ranked team for a spot at Russia 2018.

Jai has had a strong second season at Victory, earning a contract last month for the next two years, with the ex-Roar youth product having played 15 games for one goal and two assists.

Goal revealed in February that Jai was eligible for the All Whites having previously been registered with Samoa without ever playing a game for the latter.

Dane has suddenly come onto New Zealand's radar this year, with the teenager - who is only learning his trade as a full-back after previously playing further up the pitch - having made five appearances for Roar in all competitions since his debut in the AFC Champions League in January.