KEY POINTS:
The Australians are expected to stick mainly with last year's winning Tri-Nations side for Friday's Anzac test but the Kiwis will be a vastly different side.
There will be no bolters in the Kangaroos for what is the only test they will play this year and the only changes are likely to be replacements for injured Mark Gasnier and Luke O'Donnell.
Kiwis coach Brian McClennan this week ruled out bringing old hands Ruben Wiki and Nigel Vagana, who quit international football after 2006, and the injured David Kidwell into the camp as mentors.
"I think we have to find our own way. It throws us in the deep end. We have to find out what we can do as a squad and move from there," McClennan said of the game at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane next week.
"We can talk to Ruben and others if we need to but I think it's best if the young guys take care of it themselves."
McClennan is less than thrilled with the Anzac concept as is. "It's like an afterthought - 'Oh, let's chuck it in between these two rounds'."
It rankles that the ARL and NRL, who effectively run the game Downunder, still rate the State of Origin series higher than they do internationals, given that players are required to stand down from the NRL prior to Origin.
"I can't see the point of playing it between two rounds. There's not a lot of planning goes in. I disagree with how it's done but it is an opportunity and we can't begrudge that. The Aussies will be lining up in Brisbane and we won't let them down."
McClennan is confident his young new-look team will do well. But he was confident last season prior to losing 50-12.
While it will be exciting to have stars Benji Marshall and Sonny Bill Williams available, it is on tour where players really develop combinations and find their feet in the team, McClennan said.
"We are a team that grow as we go. We need solid build-ups."
They had experienced tourists of the likes of Nathan Cayless, Roy Asotasi, Dene Halatau, Frank Pritchard and Tony Puletua to call on, McClennan said.
There would be few English-based players in the Anzac team, he said.
Brent Webb appears sure to be one. "Webby is our only specialist fullback and it's possibly the most difficult position on the field to play."
He was giving away little else about the make-up of the 19 players to be named after Sunday's NRL games are completed.
At halfback, Canterbury's Ben Roberts seems the most likely replacement for Stacey Jones. But don't rule Jones out of the England tour at the end of the year just yet. Hooker must be either Lance Hohaia or Dene Halatau, the only two NRL players available with test experience bar the Cowboys' David Faiumu, until recently playing in reserve grade.
The Broncos' Greg Eastwood has to be a chance because of his utility value, having played the dummy-half role as well as lock, five-eighth and centre for Brisbane.
The rest of the backs and the pack will likely come from last year's Tri Nations squad. The realistic additions from England, with Webb, are Jason Cayless and Motu Tony from Hull and perhaps either Vinnie Anderson from Warrington or David Solomona from Bradford.
Possible Kiwis
Brent Webb, Jake Webster, Iosaia Soliola, Paul Whatuira, Manu Vatuvei, Benji Marshall, Ben Roberts, Roy Asotasi, Lance Hohaia, Nathan Cayless (c), Sonny Bill Williams, David Fa'alogo, Frank Pritchard; interchange from Dene Halatau, Motu Tony, Simon Mannering, Jason Cayless, Vinnie Anderson, Bronson Harrison.
