Today, reporter Adrian Seconi talks to Oly-Whites goalkeeper Liam Little about his side's daunting challenge.
The prospect of watching Ronaldinho line up a free kick or Kaka threading a superb pass through from the midfield would be enough to keep any goalie awake at night.
For Otago United goalkeeper Liam Little, facing the Brazilians has always been more of daydream than a nightmare.
But that fantasy could soon become reality when the Oly-Whites play Brazil in a pool match at the Beijing Olympics in China on August 10.
The 22-year-old is the back-up keeper behind Wellington's Jacob Spoonley, but he remains hopeful he will don the gloves the day New Zealand takes on the best in the world.
"It's 50-50 the way I see it," Little said.
"He [Spoonley] might get injured and I might play a couple of good games before we go to the Olympics, and might get the nod.
I've just got to knuckle down and do my best at training every day."
Little is a curious mix.
Listening to him he sounds every bit the Englishmen.
He often refers to himself as "we" or "us", and picked up his accent after spending five years living in the United Kingdom.
He was born in Whangarei and moved to Dunedin when his family shifted here last year.
But he was raised in Sydney, Australia, which is perhaps where his confidence comes from.
His uncle, Grant Ingersoll, played lock for the New Zealand Maori in 1987 and teases Little about his passion for the round-ball code.
"He always gives us stick about it but he is proud of us."
Little started playing football as a 9-year-old.
Back then he was a playmaker in the midfield but injury forced the lanky, angular figure into goal when he was 14 and he has not looked back.
"It is the hardest position on the pitch, though.
If you make a mistake you usually get punished for it, whereas outfield players can make 10 mistakes a game and nothing can be said."
Little transferred from Roslyn Wakari to Caversham this season and was forced to sit out his club's defeat to Dunedin Technical in the fourth round of the Chatham Cup.
As a youngster he looked up to Manchester United keeper Peter Schmeichel and these days admires Chelsea stopper Petr Cech.
Little spent two years playing professional football in Scotland and would like to return to the United Kingdom and establish himself as a professional.
Right now he is focused on the Olympics.
Realistically, Little acknowledges his side's prospects of making it out of group C, which includes China and Belgium as well as Brazil, are slim.
The team is "just there to compete, really".
But the prospect of staring up at Ronaldinho or Kaka as they try to slide one past him has helped push that possibility into the background.
"Playing against Ronaldinho and possibly Kaka . . . ," he said, trailing off, smiling but seemingly unable to finish his thoughts "I'm a bit scared of Ronaldinho's free kicks," he eventually continued, the smile still in place.
"I'm looking forward to playing against the best players in the world at some of the best stadiums, and also the crowds.
It is going to be a packed stadium when we play China and Brazil."
Little file
At a glance
Name: Liam Little (22).
Sport: Football.
Position: Goalkeeper.
Prospects: Chances of getting into the second round are remote with Group C matches against China, Brazil and Belgium.
When: v China Aug 7 (11.45pm), v Brazil Aug 10 (9pm), v Belgium Aug 13 (11.45pm).
