For a player once considered the world's best centre, Clinton Toopi will have an opportunity to stake his claim as a fullback when the Kiwis take on Great Britain on Wednesday morning (NZT).
Kiwis coach Brian McClennan has said he will approach the game with development in mind and is
keen on building options at fullback in a bid to find a back-up for Leeds-bound No 1 Brent Webb.
It won't be totally unfamiliar for 26-year-old Toopi, considering he began his NRL career at fullback in 1999 but was shifted to the centres by former Warriors coach Daniel Anderson in 2001.
"We're very fortunate to have Brent Webb because he is an exceptional player but the idea is to give Toopi the chance to play in that position to get him back up to speed," McClennan said.
"We also want to help him get back in the groove [after missing games for the Warriors], which might help kickstart things for him again.
"He's always worn the black and white jersey really well so he deserves backing from the Kiwi selectors."
Toopi's form has been erratic of late as he wrestled with offers to play in the UK Super League.
He eventually signed with Leeds but has still struggled to make the bench at the Warriors.
McClennan has shrewdly couched Wednesday's test as a development game because he's a little apprehensive about what might happen.
"We're getting a group of players together at the drop of a hat and giving them two training runs together," he said. "I think it would be very unrealistic to expect the team to run out and do amazing things with that preparation."
In contrast, Great Britain are near full strength and have had a series of training camps together in the lead-up to the match.
McClennan gathered the remnants of his original 22-man squad on Wednesday night for a dinner before the squad reassembles tonight after the weekend's round of Super League action.
