League: Brown to debut for Kiwis

Adam Blair passed a fitness test on his ankle but his stand-by Lewis Brown will still make his Kiwis debut in tonight's Anzac test against the Kangaroos after Greg Eastwood was a late omission.

Eastwood, selected despite playing only 50 minutes of the National Rugby League (NRL) season so far for the Bulldogs, swapped places with Brown as the Kiwis 18th man.

New Zealand Warriors utility Brown finally makes his debut via the bench after being an unused member of the victorious Four Nations campaign last November.

Eastwood was a contentious selection given his lack of game time after wrist surgery and with concern about Blair's ability to play 80 minutes the match-hardened Brown has been included.

Blair rolled his left ankle during training on Wednesday but was able to run freely enough today to start in the second row.

Hooker Nathan Fien was also cleared to play after tweaking a hamstring on Wednesday.

Brown is the second Kiwis debutant tonight alongside Melbourne wing Storm Matt Duffie.

Kiwis: Lance Hohaia, Jason Nightingale, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Simon Mannering, Matt Duffie, Benji Marshall (captain), Kieran Foran, Sam McKendry, Nathan Fien, Sam Rapira, Adam Blair, Bronson Harrison, Jeremy Smith. Interchange: Lewis Brown, Fuifui Moimoi, Ben Matulino, Issac Luke, Greg Eastwood (18th man).

- NZPA