KEY POINTS:
Rugged Kiwis impact forward Nathan Cayless has read the bad press about Stuart Fielden's frailties but is not about to join the sceptics questioning the Great Britain prop's reputation as one of the game's finest.
Fielden's reputation as one of the Lions enforcers has taken a dent - as has his nose - since Great Britain opened their Tri-Nations campaign in Christchurch last month.
The 23-test veteran began the series as a rarity - a yardage-eating front-rower capable of lasting the full 80 minutes. However, Fielden went to and from the bench at Jade Stadium, the statisticians crediting him just 57m during the 18-14 loss to the Kiwis..
That lethargic performance was attributed to a nagging knee injury, but there was nowhere for the 27-year-old to hide when he was felled by a Willie Mason hook three minutes into last weekend's test against the Kangaroos in Sydney. Fielden gingerly pulled himself off the Aussie Stadium turf, concussed and with a broken nose - the result of a foolhardy bid to bait Mason.
Mason will miss the next test against Great Britain in Brisbane next week, and the Lions went on to stun the title favourites 23-12 - not that either outcome was any consolation for Fielden, who needed his ego massaged at the end of the match.
"He was pretty disappointed, as you would be," teammate Arian Morley admitted. "We had a quick chat, I told him to get back on the horse.
"It can work one of two ways - either knock your confidence, and you'll be a bit timid, or you can really use it as a tool to prove the people wrong, bounce back and come out stronger," Morley said yesterday.
"That's what I expect Stu to do. He's been reasonably quiet for his own high standards, we have not seen the best of him and I am sure he has a few points to prove in the next few weeks."
While Fielden has become an object of ridicule inside the Kangaroos camp, Cayless has nothing but admiration for his adversary.
The former Kiwis skipper, who also sustained a broken nose last week - albeit in a less controversial collision against a Residents 13 Selection - believes Fielden remains a dangerman despite his lull in form.
"I'm sure he'll be all right this weekend. He's a tough player," Cayless said, refusing to buy into Australian-based criticism.
Cayless and his Kiwis colleagues understandably have bigger issues on their mind - namely winning, and winning convincingly enough to erase the bulk of the Lions positive 28-point differential.
Great Britain coach Brian Noble has not made the task easy, understandably selecting the 17 players who got the job done for him in Sydney.
Doubts over Irish wing Brian Carney's strained hamstring have eased while Fielden and utility Lee Gilmour were cleared of concussion.
* Wellington, Saturday 8pm
NEW ZEALAND
Brent Webb
Shontayne Hape
Iosia Soliola
Steve Matai
Manu Vatuvei
Nigel Vagana
Stacey Jones
Ruben Wiki (c)
Dene Halatau
Roy Asotasi
David Kidwell
Simon Mannering
David Fa'alogo
GREAT BRITAIN
Paul Wellens
Brian Carney
Kirk Yeaman
Keith Senior
Gareth Raynor
Leon Pryce
Sean Long
Sean O'Loughlin
Gareth Ellis
Gareth Hock
Jamie Peacock (c)
Terry Newton
Stuart Fielden
Interchange:
Kiwis: Motu Tony, Nathan Cayless, Adam Blair, Frank Pritchard
Great Britain: James Roby, Adrian Morley, Lee Gilmour, Jon Wilkin. 18th man: Danny McGuire.
- NZPA
