Mark Geyer: Predictions ... I've had a few

I've been very wrong once before when asked of the strength of a Kiwis test team, so wrong that instead of the 40 points I said the Aussie boys would win by, the men from the land of the long white cloud managed a very respectable 16-all draw against the much more fancied Kangaroos in the opening clash of the Tri-Nations series last October in Auckland.

So you will forgive me if I don't give your boys any more ammunition than they need this time around by keeping my big trap shut when asked to predict the outcome.

Taking a glance at the Kiwis team it looks to be very sound right across the board. Having picked a team on form, the only real worry might come from the halves, and whether or not Thomas Leuluai and Benji Marshall can stop the rampaging Aussie forward pack for the full 80 minutes.

I'm sure they will be targeted but I also feel they are up for the challenge.

The Kiwi forward pack oozes class and aggression, two essential ingredients that will be truly called upon once the dogfight starts tonight. But they also have a good mix of experience and youth, again part of the formula needed in these big matches.

If we take a look at the Australian team it becomes very apparent this is a team that has not been picked on form.

Basically what Wayne Bennett and his selectors have done is gone with the same team that defeated the Brits by 40 points last November - well nearly all.

Take out Shane Webke (retired from rep football) and Andrew Ryan (bad form) and you have the nucleus of the team that took out the Tri-Nations.

Also the forever-consistent Luke Priddis is in for the underdone Danny Buderus.

Unlucky players to miss out for the Aussie boys were Craig Gower, Anthony Watmough, Luke Bailey and the competition's best player this year, Rhys Wesser.

Having Webke and Buderus out is going to hurt Australia's chances.

Couple that with two of their bench players, Mark O'Meley and Jason Ryles, both just returning from substantial injuries, plus Craig Fitzgibbon, Willie Tonga and Shaun Berrigan all being way below their usual sky-high standards and you can definitely see some chinks in the Aussie armour.

But that's all they are. Chinks.

Nowhere do I see any sizeable cracks that would have me believe the Aussies should start as anything less than strong favourites.

If this game was a New Zealand home game then anything could have happened but the fact it's being played in Brisbane has me leaning towards the Aussie boys getting up.

But believe me, I don't say that with any great confidence.

This is going to be one of the most physically daunting matches to be played this season. Only the strongest will survive - players will go through periods of this game when they can't lift their legs, they will also go through trying times when they feel as though they can't breathe.

But hey, this is test-match footy and if one of your boys ever needs something to reassure himself that it's all worthwhile he could take a quick peep down at the coat of arms on his jersey.

It's for your country and NOTHING gets as good as this.

* Mark Geyer is a former Kangaroo test player.