With striker Chris Killen forced out by a tight calf muscle, the same All Whites starting 11 who stunned Serbia 1-0 last weekend will take to the field at Maribor against the world No 25 Slovenians, a match which will mark the completion of their European camp.
Herbert has again named young Europe-based defenders Winston Reid and Tommy Smith either side of captain Ryan Nelsen in another three-man defensive formation, with the pair heading off New Zealand-based Ben Sigmund and Ivan Vicelich, the pair who helped the All Whites keep a clean sheet in their two-leg qualifying defeat of Bahrain.
United States-based Jeremy Christie - a surprise inclusion in the 23-man squad - earns another midfield start alongside Simon Elliott, filling in again for the injured Tim Brown, whose participation in the tournament remains questionable while he recovers from shoulder surgery.
With Killen out, young West Bromwich Albion striker Chris Woods starts once more alongside Rory Fallon and Shane Smeltz.
A trio of Wellington Phoenix players complete the lineup which will be close to the 11 who play Slovakia in their World Cup opener on June 15, with Mark Paston in goal and Leo Bertos and Tony Lochhead occupying wider midfield slots.
It means there have been no starting roles for goalkeepers Glen Moss and James Bannatyne, defenders David Mulligan and Andrew Boyens and midfielders Cole Peverley, Andy Barron, Michael McGlinchey and Aaron Clapham in any pre-tournament friendlies, including the 1-2 loss to Australia in Melbourne. Just one buildup match remains, against Chile in Nelspruit on June 9.
Herbert was cagey when asked if he had settled on a top 11.
"I don't think so yet. We've had two very competitive games and done extremely well. Now it's about looking after players and there's probably some fine-tuning around what the squad's going to look like for the first game," he said.
"(Serbia) was only one performance together, albeit a really good one. We can back them (players) up and make some more decisions."
Herbert said he had gone with "stability" in defence by re-naming Reid and Smith.
"There's massive competition there from Sigmund and Vicelich, whether it's in this game or against Chile," he said.
"And Jeremy and Simon haven't played together before that one (Serbia)."
Herbert reiterated the need to keep his squad injury-free and suggested he would clear the substitute bench significantly tomorrow.
"Now we've performed at a level that has shown potentially what we can do. Now it's more about protection ... I'm not interested in the result."
Fallon agreed with that approach, which was why Killen was being rested again.
"For the sake of one game, I don't think he wants to risk the World Cup," Fallon told Radio Sport. "It's going to be tough for Chris but football in so changeable. Everyone's got to look after themselves and hopefully we'll all be ok for the World Cup.
"I want to play every game, that's the way I am. No one wants to sit on the bench or lose time on the park. You want to be match fit, you want to be feeling on top form."
Fallon said the team remain pleased with their upset of Serbia but had identified two key areas to improve - ball retention and set plays.
Teams:-
New Zealand: Mark Paston, Winston Reid, Ryan Nelsen (captain), Tommy Smith, Tony Lochhead, Simon Elliott, Jeremy Christie, Leo Bertos, Shane Smeltz, Rory Fallon, Chris Wood. Substitutes: Ben Sigmund, Ivan Vicelich, Cole Peverley, Chris Killen, Glen Moss, Andy Barron, Michael McGlinchey, Aaron Clapham, David Mulligan, Andrew Boyens, Jeremy Brockie, James Bannatyne,
Slovenia (from): Samir Handanovic, Jasmin Handanovic, Aleksander Seliga, Bojan Jokic, Marko Suler, Bostjan Cesar, Branko Ilic, Matej Mavric-Rozic, Elvedin Dzinic, Miso Brecko, Suad Filekovic, Andraz Kirm, Andrej Komac, Rene Krhin, Dalibor Stevanovic, Robert Koren, Aleksander Radosavljevic, Valter Birsa, Milivoje Novakovic, Zlatko Dedic, Zlatan Ljubijankic, Nejc Pecnik, Tim Matavz.
NZPA WGT dg mg
