The Olympic dreams of New Zealand's U-23 men's football team received a boost as they began their final pre-selection camp with news that their Oceania qualifiers have been moved from Fiji to Taupo.

New Zealand coach Neil Emblen has called 24 players into camp in Auckland this week and his likely to select his final squad of 18 for the March 16-25 tournament from this group after casting the net wide in previous camps.

Emblen welcomed the news of home advantage.

"It's very pleasing news. In Fiji we would have been playing in high humidity and over 30 degree heat every day so with the amount of games the boys have to play during that time it would have been a concern. They are all playing summer football in New Zealand so the Taupo conditions will be much more favourable, even if the workload is new to the players."

"The local council in Taupo is right behind the event so hopefully the support comes out and we can reward them with some good performances and book a spot for London."

New Zealand Football Chief Executive Grant McKavanagh said the decision to pick Taupo over other venues was made easy by local support.

"Taupo District Council has been fantastic," McKavanagh said. "They have gone above and beyond with the way they are making grounds and facilities in the town available to ensure the event is a success. I'm sure it'll be a great tournament."

"New Zealand Football has a plan to take big football games around the country and this is very much a part of that plan. Aucklanders get their chance with the All Whites test against Jamaica later this month and people in the central North Island now get to take a look at some of the next wave of talent at the Olympic qualifiers."

Taupo District Council Chief Executive Rob Williams was delighted the region had been selected as host.

"This confirmation follows years of hard work and dedication from the grassroots footballing community in Taupo, well known for the huge tournaments they host, through to the Waikato Bay of Plenty Football federation and of course New Zealand Football who have all come together to stage this exciting feast of sport in the centre of the North Island," said Williams.

Taupo Mayor Rick Cooper paid tribute to the various parties that have collaborated to make this happen.

"Thanks goes to OFC and FIFA officials right through to the guys that mow the parks," he said. "This will be one event that will be a true inspiration to our district's youngsters. I cannot wait for kick-off on 17 March."

"Taupo is well regarded for hosting international squads as they recently looked after Wales, Ireland and the ex-world champion South Africans during the rugby world cup and this will be another chance for the district and the North Island in particular to get in behind a major footballing occasion for New Zealand. With the success in the 2010 Football World Cup it will be great for our locals to witness the future of the beautiful game right here on our doorstep."

Emblen's squad for the eight nation event will be sourced almost entirely from ASB Premiership players as the five current All Whites who meet the age criteria - Chris Wood, Tommy Smith, Kosta Barbarouses, Marco Rojas and Jake Gleeson - are still only outside chances to be available.

"If the current players have got this far it's because we feel that they could do the job, but now it comes down to who wants it more. We're teaching them to be part of the team and emphasising their roles and responsibilities within the team but they are also competing against each other. It'll be a very competitive week."

"They're also competing with the potential situation of a full international becoming available for the qualifiers and taking one of those 18 spots."

OFC Men's Olympic Qualifier 2012

Date: 16-25 March 2012

Venue: Owen Delaney Park, Taupo, New Zealand

Format: Round robin, semi-finals, finals

Participating teams: American Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu

Winner will represent OFC at the Olympic Men's Football Tournament in London from 26 July - 11 August 2012

New Zealand Men's Olympic camp squad

February 7-10, Auckland

Goalkeepers

Scott BASALAJ (Team Wellington)

Rhyss KEANE (Green Gully, AUS)

Matt UPTON (Waitakere United)

Defenders

Sam CAMPBELL (Auckland City)

Michael EAGER (Team Wellington)

Ross HAVILAND (Waitakere United)

Mikey KRAMER (Waikato FC)

Andrew MILNE (Auckland City)

James MUSA (Team Wellington)

Tim MYERS (Waitakere United)

Tristan PRATTLEY (Otago United)

Jonathan RAJ (Team Wellington)

Luke ROWE (Team Wellington)

Midfielders

Alex FENERIDIS (Auckland City)

Jason HICKS (Waikato FC)

Cameron LINDSAY (Wellington Phoenix)

Adam MCGEORGE (Auckland City)

Daniel SARIC (Unattached)

Adam THOMAS (Waikato FC)

Forwards

Andy BEVIN (Waitakere United)

Louis FENTON (Team Wellington)

Ethan GALBRAITH (Team Wellington)

Sean LOVEMORE (Waitakere United)

Dakota LUCAS (Team Wellington)

Standby

Tyler LISSETTE (Waikato FC)

Tyler BOYD (Waikato FC)