Injury worries for New Zealands two Olympic football teams are beginning to ease as they get closer to their respective opening games on Wednesday and Thursday (UK time).
The Football Ferns open the Olympics against Great Britain in Cardiff on Wednesday and the U-23 men take on Belarus on Thursday in Coventry, and both New Zealand teams hit the training pitch in the respective cities for the first time on Saturday.
Good news for each team was the sight of key players joining in after time spent on the sidelines during recent warm up matches.
Ferns fullback Ali Riley has returned to training after suffering a leg injury against Canada a week ago and is expected to be fit to play the Olympic hosts in three days time.
Meanwhile Oly Whites goalkeeper Jake Gleeson is making a graduated return to training after injuring his groin against the Korea Republic last week and is also expected to be available for selection against the Belarusians.
Adam McGeorge (hamstring) and Tim Myers (virus) have both returned to full training after each missing two of the three warm up games the New Zealand men played, and training numbers have been further boosted with the arrival of stand-by goalkeeper Scott Basalaj.
The Football Ferns take on Great Britain at 1am on Thursday (NZT) with the men squaring off against Belarus at 6.45am on Friday (NZT).
New Zealand Olympic Schedule
July 25
New Zealand Women v Great Britain
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
4pm (3am, July 26 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 5
July 26
New Zealand Men v Belarus
City of Coventry Stadium, Coventry
7.45pm (6.45am, July 27 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 5
July 28
New Zealand Women v Brazil
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
2.30pm (1am, July 29 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 8
July 29
New Zealand Men v Egypt
Old Trafford, Manchester
Noon (11pm NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 9
July 31
New Zealand Women v Cameroon
City of Coventry Stadium, Coventry
7.45pm (6.45am, August 1 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 4
August 1
New Zealand Men v Brazil
St James Park, Newcastle
2.30pm (1.30am, August 2 NZT)
Live on Sky Sport 4
