KEY POINTS:
Warriors captain Steve Price is urging his great mate Stacey Jones to shelve any immediate test retirement plans, saying the Kiwis star has returned to the finest form of his career.
Price, who was surprisingly overlooked for Ricky Stuart's Kangaroos squad, was in a posse of luminaries who encouraged Jones to return to the test arena in 2005. That led to the Kiwis' stunning Tri-Nations triumph in England over an Australian side including Price.
The 30-year-old Jones, who plans to retire after one more season for French club Les Catalans, goes into the Tri-Nations final against Australia in Sydney as the key to Kiwis hopes. He gave private hints early in the Tri-Nations that this series could be his international farewell.
There is also inevitable speculation about the future of the Kiwis' world record holding captain Ruben Wiki, who plays his 55th test on Saturday and turns 34 in January.
But Wiki has already extended his Warriors contract into the 2008 World Cup season, and Price believes his club comrade can defy modern trends by leading the Kiwis into that tournament.
On Jones, the 10-test Price was "in awe" of his former Warriors' teammate's performance against Great Britain in Wellington 10 days ago.
"So long as he is still enjoying his football, it would be great to see him go on the All Golds tour to Britain next year - what a way to finish your career, celebrating 100 years of matches, although lasting for the next World Cup is another matter," Price said.
"His greatest concern last year was that he is a man of his word and coming out of retirement would contradict that.
"I said to him that the situation which led to his retirement had changed and if he swallowed his pride a little bit to help his mates and his country, people would think even more of him.
"It's been a remarkable story and the Kiwis would never have won the Tri-Nations without him. What Wellington showed is that his enthusiasm is still there. It was the most controlled and direct I'd seen him play for a long time.
"That game in Wellington was do or die for the Kiwis ... it was a fantastic indicator of the team's courage and determination and it was led by the No 7. He was outstanding."
While Wiki has given nothing away about his future plans, Price and Warriors coach Ivan Cleary feel he will continue his remarkable Kiwis career, which began in 1994.
Cleary described Wiki as a freak.
"He's at an age where most people have given it away or are thinking about it, whereas Rubes just can't wait for the next game. He's pushing milestones that other people aren't or can't," said Cleary.
"He trains as hard as he plays and maybe that's his secret. He doesn't seem to know any other way."
* The Kiwis are expected to retain the line-up that beat Great Britain in Wellington when they name their side today.
English-based Australian referee Ashley Klein is favoured to beat out NRL whistler Paul Simpkins for Saturday's final.
