KEY POINTS:
It's difficult to keep Willie Mason out of the headlines, and the wild man of Australian league looms large in the Tri-Nations grand final preparations even when nowhere in sight.
Mason's return from suspension adds shock value to Saturday night's showdown in Sydney although the locals have yet
to be stirred - pre-sales suggest a crowd of only 20,000.
As a wind in the high 30s blew around inland Sydney, including the Kiwis' base at Parramatta, the great and the good of the Tri-Nations were blowing hot and cold on fiery grand finals.
On one hand, the game doesn't want to have to deal with images of violence. On the other, gladiatorial fireworks hold a fascination for the public.
Topping the Saturday night bill is the prospect of a re-match between Mason and Kiwi second rower David Kidwell, whose collision in the opener at Mt Smart Stadium set the tone for the series.
They were kept apart in the return match by the injury Kidwell's charge inflicted on the Australian.
Yesterday's press conference at Aussie Stadium, attended by the captains and coaches, opened with a presentation by an agency trying to take adult rage out of kids sport.
As the advertisement showed an out of control coach ending up with a baby's dummy in his mouth, it was hard not to think of Mason's history of histrionics in the media and on the field.
Coaches Ricky Stuart and Brian McClennan expounded the values of controlled aggression.
Stuart said: "The challenge for all the players and not just Willie is to control our aggression. The striking and fighting I don't condone, but it is not something that is planned. There is a lot of pride and sometimes the emotions just flow."
Mason is central to the build-up - many observers believe the Australian pack is in desperate need of his impact.
Mason has been named to start, although McClennan expects him to be on the bench, as he was in Auckland.
For all his deriding of Kidwell's courage after the Mt Smart clash, Mason likes to take a crack at defences on the fringes rather than belting up the middle all the time.
Kidwell said yesterday he fully expected Mason to seek revenge for the shoulder charge which felled the big Australian in Auckland.
"The media has pumped it up and from my point of view, it's not personal," said Kidwell.
"Obviously he does want to get a square up and that's football. It doesn't worry me - I'm sure he will.
"I put the team first and am out there to do my job - I have no personal vendetta against him. We've got to stop all their forwards and their whole team, not just Willie."
Kiwi prop Roy Asotasi, a club mate of Mason's at the Bulldogs, said Mason would want to start the game.
"He'll want to get involved in the early confrontations," said Asotasi.
"We won't be concentrating too much on Willie because if you get caught up in his fiery little ways you lose concentration on the game.
"He likes to bait you verbally and physically dominate you much more than other players. You've got to make sure you don't get caught up in it.
"But he's one of those players who can do something special for a team. I know at the Dogs that he lifted us at times when we struggled and he'll do that for Australia.
"Hopefully, we'll get in to him early and rattle him. Thumping Willie might help stop their forwards. But you have got many other players to worry about."
Asotasi expected a fiery start.
"It will be very explosive for the first 20 minutes."
Mason had this to say: "The Kiwis always try to use that intimidating factor, they always try to bully us around but we're used to that sort of stuff."
Asked if he would tone it down this week, Mason said: "No way, I think it's better because it's a final. You can't get suspended, I don't think, unless they carry on into next year's NRL games."
The Kiwis have concentrated on their defence this week. They have also used drills emphasising the need for the field runners to make plenty of water available for the players in the heat.
It may take more than a bottle of water to cool the temperatures though when Mason, injured pride and all, gets into his final game of the season.
