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The opposition may arrive equipped with a thick security blanket but recuperated Kiwis ace Shontayne Hape doubts his Great Britain rugby league mates will be lulled into complacency ahead of Saturday's Tri-Nations showdown.
Hape, who had three seasons under wily Lions coach Brian Noble at Bradford, has arguably
the greatest insight into Great Britain's mindset and it's hardly encouraging news for a New Zealand squad that has attracted all manner of misfortune since their title defence lurched into action with the first of two defeats against Australia.
Great Britain are scheduled to touch down in the capital tomorrow, invigorated by a stunning 23-12 defeat of the Kangaroos - an outcome Hape fears will not go to their heads.
There is a hopeful school of thought suggesting the Lions, giddy from a first win in Sydney since 1988, might approach their assignment at Westpac Stadium with one eye already on the November 25 final against the Australians.
Given they have already beaten the Kangaroos and seen their 14-18 loss to the Kiwis in Christchurch on October 28 voided through the Nathan Fien eligibility scandal, Great Britain could be forgiven for already making assumptions, considering they also hold a positive 28 points differential over the Kiwis.
However, Hape, who has recovered from a knee ligament strain to regain his place on the wing, says Noble is too canny to let his side get ahead of themselves.
"I know what he is going to be like (this week), he's a great motivator, he can get his players up for the big games."
Hape should know. Under Noble's tutelage at Odsal the strapping outside back won two Super League grand finals, the Challenge Cup "and a couple of world club challenge finals".
The 26-year-old doubts the British squad will be losing focus before a match that could release the pressure valve ahead of a rematch with Australia in Brisbane next weekend.
"They'll see (Saturday) as a building step to the final. If they win they're straight in but it's as big a game for them as it for us."
Former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott, who coached against Noble when he was at Widnes, shared Hape's belief that Great Britain will not retreat into their shells to safeguard a 28-point cushion.
"Knowing the people concerned they will not play it conservative," he said.
"The Super League teams tend to chance their arm a lot more than in the NRL, they couldn't play five drives and a kick - they've got too many players that love to use the ball."
Meanwhile, Hape was relieved to be on the brink of earning his 10th cap after it was feared his campaign was over after he injured his knee twice during the Kiwis debilitating 15-20 loss to the Kangaroos in Melbourne on October 21.
Hape battled on bravely to the bitter end, a climax soured when he missed a tackle on Australian flyer Greg Inglis who raced away the score the first of two converted tries in the final eight minutes as the world champions snatched an unlikely win.
"After the frustrations of Melbourne it'll be good to get out there and contribute again," he said.
Hooker Dene Halatau and centre Steve Matai also return from shoulder injuries as coach Brian McClennan fields what he believes is his best side of the series.
"Given we've played three tests, and we've been together a while now, this will be a tough team to beat."
In other significant changes from the side that beat Great Britain before the two competition points were stripped after Fien's participation David Fa'alogo makes his first start in the run on side, Adam Blair returns to the bench and Nigel Vagana is back in the halves with Stacey Jones.
- NZPA
