As teams based in Oceania, they've both been turfed from the Asian confederation competition.

Club boss David Dome says their absence from the pre-season knockout tournament could be a blessing in disguise.

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Other National News

30 Jan: Missing out on a spot at the airport is largely to blame for a Wellington taxi company's failure

30 Jan: Recovery operations appear to be back underway in Tauranga, although caution remains paramount

30 Jan: The Tauranga community's joined together in a show of support for whanau who've lost loved ones, a week after landslides in the area

30 Jan: An Otago woman's described her family's 5.3 million dollar Lotto Powerball win as 'absolutely unreal'

29 Jan: A person has died in a crash on Nelson Road, east of Taupaki in Auckland's Rodney

29 Jan: A 14-year-old's been charged after an Auckland bus driver was seriously assaulted in Massey last night

29 Jan: How ordinary neighbourhoods became battlegrounds in the politics of ‘broken Britain’

Top Stories

RUGBY
Ireland's Auckland-born midfielder Bundee Aki will sit out half of Ireland's Six Nations rugby campaign over referee abuse More...

BUSINESS
Missing out on a spot at the airport is largely to blame for a Wellington taxi company's failure More...

Today's News

International:
Trump tariffs could 'isolate' the US and create new trading blocs 9:46

Law and Order:
Trump border tsar Tom Homan pledges 'safer' Minnesota operation as government shutdown looms 9:37

Entertainment:
Paul Giamatti "didn't actually think" he'd appear in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy 9:31

Entertainment:
Channing Tatum believes parenting is "hard" 9:01

Entertainment:
Leighton Meester considers "just liking each other" to be key to relationship success 8:31

Golf:
Golfer Daniel Hillier's consistency continues to start the European Tour season 8:27

Business:
Missing out on a spot at the airport is largely to blame for a Wellington taxi company's failure 8:17

International:
As Donald Trump weighs up actions, Iranians send the US a message to 'please help' 8:07

Accident and Emergency:
Recovery operations appear to be back underway in Tauranga, although caution remains paramount 8:07

Entertainment:
Jason Momoa thinks Dave Bautista is "graceful" and "regal" 8:01

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