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Newcastle United striker Chris Wood to lead depleted Kiwis in crucial trans-Tasman friendly matches against Socceroos ahead of World Cup

The Socceroos will face a New Zealand side without some familiar A-League names in their two World Cup send-off matches this month.

Newcastle United striker Chris Wood and Empoli full-back Liberato Cacace lead the 24-man squad named by All Whites coach Danny Hay on Monday.

But there's no Clayton Lewis or Sarpreet Singh, sidelined through injury, Kosta Barbarouses, who will miss with suspension, or Marco Rojas.

Newcastle striker Chris Wood
Guus Hiddink and Graham Arnold

Empoli full-back Liberato Cacace (top), Newcastle United striker Chris Wood (bottom left) and Australian coach Graham Arnold with Dutch legend Guus Hiddink who is assisting

The trans-Tasman rivals play in Brisbane on September 22 and Auckland on September 25, which will be the first match for New Zealand on home soil in three years.