KEY POINTS:
Encouraged after stunning England with a first-half lead before losing by just 10 points, the Papua New Guinea Kumuls are now disregarding their future games in the World Cup to throw everything at New Zealand.
They will use the same side that narrowly lost 32-22 in Townsville against the Kiwis at Skilled Park in Robina on the Gold Coast tomorrow, with just centre Jesse Joe Parker in doubt with a facial cut.
If the Kiwis take PNG lightly, they will be in for a big shock. The Kumuls are primed to step up again so as to prove their worth on the international stage.
Coach Adrian Lam said the lack of test experience was a major problem for the team and the standard of play both by the Kumuls and throughout PNG would improve with more international experience.
Lam has instilled an NRL-style approach to the Kumuls' defence and tried to temper the attack so they do not push passes, make errors and give opponents chances from turnovers. But he doesn't want to stifle them.
He has also instilled a competitive instinct and never-say-die attitude.
The Kumuls side includes four players from the NRL and three others from lower-grade Aussie competitions plus three from Super League.
Canberra State of Origin player Neville Costigan is forward leader and fullback John Wilshere from Salford is captain and leader of a speedy backline that likes to play with the ball.
In key positions, hooker Paul Aiton has 40-odd NRL games and halfback Keith Peters a dozen for Penrith, the 34-year-old Stanley Gene from Hull KR can shift from lock to five-eighths if direction is needed. Fastest man in the squad is David Moore, 19, from the Titans.
Their last pool game is against Australia in Townsville on November 9.
Meanwhile, the Aussies have named Karmichael Hunt to take the place of the injured Kurt Gidley on their bench for the game against England at the Telstra Dome on Sunday.
Otherwise the side is that which beat the Kiwis, though halfback Johnathan Thurston has a shoulder injury so Scott Prince is on standby.
England are unchanged, though fullback Lee Smith is carrying a leg injury and must pass a fitness test.
Tonight Samoa play Tonga in what is sure to be a bruising encounter at Penrith Stadium.
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WHAT: NZ v Papua New Guinea
WHERE: Skilled Park, Robina, Gold Coast
WHEN: 10pm Saturday night (NZT) (7pm local time)
