League: Grand final rivals in long-awaited return for Kiwis

Shaun Kenny-Dowall tunes up for the clash with Samoa on Saturday night. Photo / Getty Images

Grand final winner Jeremy Smith and vanquished opponent Shaun Kenny-Dowall return to test football after long absences when the Kiwis face Toa Samoa in the first meeting between the sides at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday night.

Kenny-Dowall will start in the centres after playing his one and only test against France in Paris in 2007, while Smith is in the Kiwis line-up for the first time since their World Cup triumph in November 2008.

Also set to return after last playing in the 2009 Anzac test in Brisbane are Warriors teammates Simon Mannering and Manu Vatuvei. Mannering has been named on the bench, after spending the last two days in bed with a virus.

Vatuvei, who scored 20 tries in 19 NRL appearances this year, is back on the left wing while Smith's premiership-winning Dragons teammate Jason Nightingale is on the right wing.

In other changes from the Kiwis line-up beaten 12-8 in the Anzac test in May, Thomas Leuluai replaces the injured Kieran Foran at halfback. Leuluai was named man of the match for his effort in Wigan's Super League grand final win over St Helens at Old Trafford on October 2.

Greg Eastwood, who is set to rejoin the Bulldogs after quitting Leeds, will start at prop along with Adam Blair.

That somewhat lightweight propping pairing, coupled with the surprise non-selection of former captain Roy Asotasi in the squad, suggests coach Stephen Kearney has put a premium on mobility for the Four Nations tournament that follows Saturday's warm-up matches. Incumbent second rower Bronson Harrison is rejoined by Penrith's Frank Pritchard, who missed the May clash against Australia.

Kearney has left out wingers Sam Perrett and Antonio Winterstein from a 19-man squad. Lewis Brown and late call-up Sam McKendry have been named in a strong New Zealand Maori side to face England in Saturday night's curtain-raiser.

"It hasn't been an easy side to pick because this time we do have most of the leading players available," Kearney said.

"It means there is great competition for places and some players will be disappointed to miss out on a test, especially one like this which is the first New Zealand has played against Samoa.

"Tonga gave us a real challenge when we played them in Rotorua before last year's Four Nations and, looking at the strength of Samoa's side, we know we'll be in for a tough night."

The centre pairing of Timana Tahu and Clinton Toopi is the feature of the Maori side named by coaches Richie Blackmore and Mark Horo.

Warriors wing Kevin Locke gets the chance to show what he can do at fullback, while teammates Aaron Heremaia and Russell Packer are also in the Maori side.

With only one of the 17 players in the Maori team not on the books of an NRL or Super League side - winger Kaine Manihera - England will be in for a stern test as they tune up for next week's match against the Kiwis.

KIWIS v SAMOA Mt Smart Stadium,

7.30pm Saturday

Lance Hohaia
Jason Nightingale
Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Junior Sa'u
Manu Vatuvei
Benji Marshall (c)
Thomas Leuluai
Greg Eastwood
Issac Luke
Adam Blair
Frank Pritchard
Bronson Harrison
Jeremy Smith

Interchange: Nathan Fien, Ben Matulino, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Simon Mannering, Sika Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

NZ MAORI v ENGLAND

Mt Smart Stadium,

5pm Saturday

Kevin Locke
Sandor Earl
Timana Tahu
Clinton Toopi (c)
Kaine Manihera
AJ Taumataa
Rangi Chase
James Tamou
Aaron Heremaia
Russell Packer
Weller Hauraki
Justin Horo
Bodene Thompson

Interchange:
Kevin Proctor, Sam McKendry, Lewis Brown.