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Australia is often referred to as 'the Lucky Country' because of its natural resources, weather and distance from problems in the world. Depth in rugby league can be added to that list.
The Kangaroos have picked their youngest backline in 100 years but it is the envy of sides everywhere. Winger Israel Folau, 18, will become the youngest in history to wear the green and gold and the likes of Jarryd Hayne and Greg Inglis aren't much more senior.
What is perhaps more remarkable, however, is the fact it is an entirely different backline to the one that dismantled the Kiwis 30-6 in the Anzac test in April.
Darren Lockyer, Jonathan Thurston, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt and Brent Tate are all injured, Jamie Lyon is suspended while Matt King is on his way to collect his massive paycheck playing in the UK Super League.
"We certainly are the lucky country when it comes to rugby league," former Kangaroos five-eighth and commentator Ben Ikin said. "We have enormous depth borne out by the fact of the 16 teams playing in the NRL, 15 are in Australia. It's a luxury for the selectors."
It's for this reason that no Australian side can ever be deemed as vulnerable, despite the relative inexperience of the side that will line up against the Kiwis in Wellington today.
There are five debutants in the backline and another two in the pack and there is a distinctly purple tinge to the side with seven Melbourne Storm players in the playing squad of 17.
"A lot of people have said this was to reward the players for winning a premiership but it's more about combinations," Ikin said. "When a group comes together for a one-off test they don't have a lot of time to prepare so combinations can make the difference.
"The selectors might have picked Scott Prince [at halfback], who had an outstanding year, but to go with Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith [both Melbourne] was a smart decision. The combination between the halfback and hooker is crucial. [Coach] Ricky Stuart has also gone with a guy he knows to play five-eighth in Greg Bird."
Bird plays under Stuart at the Sharks.
Like the Kiwis, the Australian selectors have more than one eye on next year's World Cup. Lockyer and Thurston will walk back into the side in 12 months' time if they are fit, while Hunt, Tate and Hodges can be expected to be loudly knocking on the selectors' door.
"They're trying to create more depth by the time the World Cup rolls around," Ikin said. "There's so much uncertainty over fitness at the end of the NRL season that you probably need a squad of 25-27 players in mind for the tournament. That's the advantage of giving some of these guys like Cooper Cronk, Greg Bird and Dallas Johnson a go now."
The Kiwis have promised to add more flair to the muscle game they have traditionally adopted but the Kangaroos will be ready if it becomes trench warfare.
They have workhorses in Nathan Hindmarsh and Johnson, as well as a touch of mongrel in the shape of Willie Mason and Michael Crocker who will be coming off the bench.
They also have Smith, the best hooker in the game, to guide them around the park as well as recent history on their side.
Since Stuart took over the coaching reins from Wayne Bennett, he has never lost to the Kiwis in five matches. Ikin wonders if the time is right for that to change.
"I think it's 50:50," he said while removing splinters from his rear. "I think the fact there's some inexperience in the Australian side will give the Kiwis confidence and I really like the group of guys the Kiwis have put together.
"Now is as good a chance as any for the Kiwis to beat the Aussies."
