KEY POINTS:
Consistent performances for the Warriors have pushed Lance Hohaia ahead of the other fullback options Krisnan Inu and Sam Perrett for the Kiwis World Cup opening game against Australia.
Hohaia expects the Kangaroos kickers to send plenty of aerial attack his way but said he was confident of covering that after spending plenty of time at number one filling in for the injured Wade McKinnon and working hard on his acceptance of the kick.
Coaches Stephen Kearney and Wayne Bennett have not asked anything special from him - "just go out and play consistently".
Hohaia, 25, is over the hamstring twinge that kept him out of the warm-up against Tonga and is keen to cement himself as a key component of the national side longer term after a start in 2002 and just 10 tests since.
And after coming into top grade football as a halfback then being turned into a five-eighth then a hooker, pushed to centre to cover for injury and then to fullback, the short and stocky product of the Taniwharau club in Huntly is now happy to be of value as a utility.
"Centre is the only position of all those that I don't feel that comfortable at still, that's where I'm least happy. The rest I feel okay at now. I like the positions around the ball that are central to the team."
Hohaia's stuttered test career means he has played little time with Benji Marshall and Thomas Leuluai and the trio are still working up their timing.
"It's the little things in everyone's play that I'm trying to work out," he said, aiming to inject his runs from the back at the right moment, as he has for the Auckland club.
"I'm excited. This is probably the best prepared we've been," he said of his previous test experience. "The time in camp and the two games in the lead up have helped us heaps."
Melbourne Storm forward Sika Manu has won a starting spot after making his test debut off the bench against Tonga last Saturday. He will partner Simon Mannering in the second row.
Kearney reshuffled several positions from the 56-8 win over Tonga, with captain and prop Nathan Cayless (knee), wing Manu Vatuvei and Hohaia (both hamstring) all passed fit to play after being rested at the weekend as a precaution.
"In the end we didn't want to take any risks with Nathan, Manu and Lance against Tonga," Kearney said.
"It made sense to keep them out of that match after they'd all played for the All Golds against New Zealand Maori (on October 12). Now they're right to go against Australia."
Prop Adam Blair also forced his way into the starting lineup ahead of Sam Rapira who is on the bench, while Sam Perrett edged out Inu for a spot on the wing after an impressive display as Hohaia's stand-in on Saturday.
Hooker Dene Halatau edged out Issac Luke for a spot on the bench behind starting No 9 Nathan Fien, while Rapira, Greg Eastwood and Setaimata Sa make up the interchange bench. Kearney said the effect of having all players available - apart from injured centre Iosia Soliola - was some major selection headaches.
Kiwis
Lance Hohaia, Sam Perrett, Steve Matai, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Benji Marshall, Thomas Leuluai, Nathan Cayless (captain), Nathan Fien, Adam Blair, Simon Mannering, Sika Manu, Jeremy Smith.
Interchange: Dene Halatau, Greg Eastwood, Setaimata Sa, Sam Rapira.
Kangaroos
Billy Slater, Joel Monaghan, Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Brent Tate, Darren Lockyer (captain), Jonathan Thurston, Petero Civoniceva, Cameron Smith, Steve Price, Glenn Stewart, Anthony Laffranchi, Paul Gallen.
Interchange: Brent Kite, Josh Perry, Anthony Tupou, Kurt Gidley.
- with NZPA
