The Kangaroos and Kiwis meet in a preview of the Pacific Championships final with both sides having already qualified for next week's decider in Hamilton.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has taken the opportunity to bring Thomas Flegler and Reuben Cotter into the starting pack with Payne Haas, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Liam Martin set to rested.
The last time the great Trans-Tasman rivals met was last year's World Cup semi-final with the Kangaroos getting home 16-14 on the back of tries to Josh Addo-Carr, Val Holmes and Cam Murray.
Of the 17 players who took the field in that clash for the Kangaroos that night only nine will line up this weekend while the Kiwis side includes 12 members of the side that went down narrowly in Leeds.
Every contest between the Kangaroos and Kiwis offers the chance to make a statement and claim bragging rights so nothing will be left in the tank, particularly in the early exchanges when James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota lock horns with debutant Flegler and Cowboys hard nut Cotter.
Match: Kangaroos v Kiwis
Week 3 -
home Team
Kangaroos
1st Position
away Team
Kiwis
2nd Position
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Team News
Kangaroos: Will take the field as named mid-week, with five-eighth Cameron Munster cleared after missing the squad's field training session on Wednesday due to illness. Valentine Holmes has been recalled to the Australian side having served his one-game ban and replaces Selwyn Cobbo on the wing. Props Payne Haas and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui have been rested, with their places in the front row taken by Jake Trbojevic and Test debutant Thomas Flegler. Maroons star Reuben Cotter will start in the back row.
Kiwis: An unchanged 17 from last week's 50-0 hammering of Toa Samoa. After being a late addition to the starting side at hooker in week two, Kieran Foran will wear the No.9 jersey against Australia with Fa'amanu Brown reverting to the bench. Brown joins centre Matthew Timoko and fellow bench men Griffin Neame and Leo Thompson in making his second Test appearance for New Zealand. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Joey Manu are expected to again share time at fullback.
Match: Kangaroos v Kiwis
Week 3 -
home Team
Kangaroos
away Team
Kiwis
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Kangaroos is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Kiwis is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
-
Winger for Kangaroos is number 2 Dylan EdwardsWinger for Kiwis is number 2 Ronaldo Mulitalo
-
Centre for Kangaroos is number 3 Hamiso Tabuai-FidowCentre for Kiwis is number 3 Matthew Timoko
-
Centre for Kangaroos is number 4 Kotoni StaggsCentre for Kiwis is number 4 Joseph Manu
-
Winger for Kangaroos is number 5 Valentine HolmesWinger for Kiwis is number 5 Jamayne Isaako
-
Five-Eighth for Kangaroos is number 6 Cameron MunsterFive-Eighth for Kiwis is number 6 Dylan Brown
-
Halfback for Kangaroos is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Kiwis is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
Forwards
-
Prop for Kangaroos is number 8 Jake TrbojevicProp for Kiwis is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
-
Hooker for Kangaroos is number 9 Ben HuntHooker for Kiwis is number 9 Kieran Foran
-
Prop for Kangaroos is number 10 Thomas FleglerProp for Kiwis is number 10 Moses Leota
-
2nd Row for Kangaroos is number 11 Cameron Murray2nd Row for Kiwis is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
-
2nd Row for Kangaroos is number 12 Reuben Cotter2nd Row for Kiwis is number 12 Briton Nikora
-
Lock for Kangaroos is number 13 Isaah YeoLock for Kiwis is number 13 Joseph Tapine
Interchange
-
Interchange for Kangaroos is number 14 Harry GrantInterchange for Kiwis is number 14 Fa'amanu Brown
-
Interchange for Kangaroos is number 15 Lindsay CollinsInterchange for Kiwis is number 15 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
-
Interchange for Kangaroos is number 16 Patrick CarriganInterchange for Kiwis is number 16 Griffin Neame
-
Interchange for Kangaroos is number 17 Nicholas HynesInterchange for Kiwis is number 17 Leo Thompson
Reserves
-
Replacement for Kangaroos is number 18 Liam MartinReplacement for Kiwis is number 18 Naufahu Whyte
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The last time Australia and New Zealand met in Melbourne was the 2010 Trans-Tasman Test, the Kangaroos getting home 12-8.
- The Kiwis had 57 tackle breaks and 12 line breaks in their 50-0 demolition of Toa Samoa last weekend.
- Australia have won six of their past seven Tests against New Zealand.
- Adam Blair and Ruben Wiki hold the record for most appearances for NZ against Australia with 24.
- Australia's biggest win over New Zealand is 58-0 at Westpac Stadium in Wellington in 2007.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
