League: Break raises Kiwis fitness query

Stacey Jones (right) limbers up in training at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday. Phil Walter / Getty Images

One factor stands out in the tit-for-tat analysis of the Kiwis and Kangaroos league sides for Saturday night's opening Tri-Nations test in Auckland.

Ricky Stuart's Australians have a major advantage in terms of recent football, while Brian McClennan's Kiwis will rely on players who have had light workloads.

About a dozen of the likely Kiwi side, to be named tomorrow, will not have played for six weeks come kick- off time.

In stark contrast, the Kangaroos - who arrive in Auckland this evening - are stacked with players from the NRL's top-eight finals, with 10 involved in the grand final eight days ago.

There has long been arguments about whether players going into major matches are helped by having the previous week off or not. Different players and coaches hold different theories. As for six weeks' rest though - that's a whole new ball game.

Nineteen of Australia's 23-man squad were in the NRL finals series compared with just six Kiwis. Stamina shouldn't be so much of a problem for playmakers Stacey Jones and Nigel Vagana, although Vagana may also have to act as a dummy half.

Among those who face major tests in high workload positions will be rookie test centre Iosia Soliola, makeshift hooker Dene Halatau, and forwards such as Frank Pritchard and the Kiwis' inspirational although ageing leader Ruben Wiki.

Wiki's presence continually galvanises the Kiwis and danger signs often appear when he is off the field, but even during regular club football he is essentially a 40-minute man.

One of the few match-conditioned Kiwis, the Melbourne Storm forward David Kidwell, was yesterday eager to play down any fitness disadvantage.

"I don't think it's an issue really although obviously a few of the boys haven't had football," said Kidwell.

"But we trained pretty hard yesterday and have another tough one today. Whilst you can't beat game fitness, everyone knows it is going to be hard and you just have to prepare for it.

"Who knows how it will go in the last quarter and anything can happen in football. We'll just have to dig deep when times get tough, rely on the mate next to you.

"We're a big family in the Kiwi camp and we don't want to let anyone down so we've just got to keep working."

But Kiwi coach McClennan wasn't so sure, and repeated his belief that the Kiwis would improve through the series. McClennan said stirring home support could help offset the Kiwis' lack of match fitness this Saturday.

"It is an issue, of course it is, and you can't really paper over or dismiss those types of things. We said from the start that we will get better as we get more training and football.

"The crowd factor will be big, too right. Once you get into that last 15 or 20 minutes a big crowd getting in behind us will lift the team. It lifts everything by 20 per cent at least - it's very important to have that big crowd supporting us.

"At the moment we're just keeping our feet on the ground. We've had a couple of runs but there's a lot of stuff we have to do before we really gel together. We're taking it one day at a time."

McClennan confirmed a Sunday newspaper report that he is strongly considering using big Warriors centre Simon Mannering, who would be making his international debut, at lock so he has a forward to last the match.

The Kiwis have lost the 80-minute man Louis Anderson to injury, and also used Bradford centre Shontayne Hape at lock in last year's Tri-Nations thumping of Australia.

The Kiwis have lost Wakefield forward David Solomona, who withdrew over the weekend because of a bicep injury. Solomona had an exploratory operation and a specialist ruled him out. The loss of Solomona and Sonny Bill Williams removes a lot of off-loading potential from the Kiwi pack.

Hape is on the way home after Bradford's Super League loss to Hull, but he will not be considered for Saturday night's test.

Meanwhile, officials were unable to confirm the referee for Saturday's match although the Kiwis are expecting Englishman Ashley Klein to get the job.

* The Kiwis' final public training will be held at Mt Smart Stadium tomorrow, at 10am.

* The Warriors have signed their former forward Logan Swann on a one-year deal.

The 31-year-old will help to replenish the back row following the departure of stalwart Awen Guttenbeil and the sacking of Sione Faumuina.

Swann played 145 games for the Warriors between 1997 and 2003 - only Jones (238) and Guttenbeil (170) have played more for the club - and 28 tests for the Kiwis between 1996 and 2004. Swann had one season with Bradford and two with Warrington in the British Super League.