KEY POINTS:
He's the rock star of the Kiwis team, the man with the diamond ear studs, dazzling sidestep and big pay packet.
But Benji Marshall's teammates have not let him forget it's just his fifth test appearance against the Kangaroos in their World Cup opener in Sydney on Sunday.
"[Captain] Nathan Cayless is always giving it to me about it being my first tour. I've missed that many games," Marshall said yesterday.
It seems Marshall, 23, is willing to take some stick because, at last, he's in the Kiwis jersey post-NRL season.
Since he burst on to the scene with the Wests Tigers as a teenager five years ago, this is his first end-of-year campaign.
Five bouts of shoulder surgery and other niggling injuries have seen to that, after his memorable role in the Wests Tigers' 2005 grand final win.
He declared himself as close to peak as possible yesterday as the cameras crowded around the Whakatane whiz in his only interview for the week.
Team minders will put up the shutters around their star until Sunday night as his long-awaited return nears.
"I'm feeling pretty good, probably the best I've felt in a while," he said. "I've had a good mental preparation. I'm pretty confident in myself and ready to play.
"I haven't felt this way for a while. It's been good being on the field for a few games in a row then representing New Zealand at the end of the year for a change.
"To be able to play in a World Cup is a big deal for me. To be able to have my first tour as a World Cup is pretty exciting, so I've been looking forward to it for a while."
Aside from his impressive performance in the 56-8 win over Tonga on Saturday, his previous test was in April last year.
Fresh from more shoulder surgery, a jittery Marshall hardly set the world on fire as the Kangaroos cantered home 30-6.
"Confidence is a big thing. Last time I played in the Anzac test I was just coming back from injury and it's pretty hard to get timing and confidence up."
This time , he had a strong finish to the season with the Tigers, six weeks' hard work on his fitness and defence in Sydney and two significant matches in the past fortnight.
The first was alongside his idol Stacey Jones for the All Golds against New Zealand Maori and the second against Tonga, where he ran the show alongside his halves partner Thomas Leuluai and turned on the trademark razzle-dazzle in scoring two of the Kiwis' 10 tries.
"He's been good, Stacey. He's been in camp with us through the last couple of weeks and he's definitely had an influence on me, excitement-wise, being able to be around a bloke like him.
"He puts in his five cents every now and then, it's just good to have him around."
So, does Marshall feel the weight of New Zealand league on his shoulders as they chase World Cup glory against hot favourites Australia?
"I don't feel pressured at all. I've got a lot of good players around me, we've got good coaching staff and I feel like I've prepared well.
"Really, the rest is just on the field."
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.
- NZPA
