League: Vainikolo eager to pile heat on

Kiwi winger Lesley Vainikolo says he'll be giving it everything when he lines up against Australia in London tomorrow in his only appearance of the Tri-Nations series.

"Test level is where you want to be," Vainikolo said.

"When you put the Kiwi jersey on, it's a big high, so I'm going to give it everything I've got."

The Kiwis and Kangaroos go into their rematch at Loftus Rd after a 16-16 draw in Auckland last weekend.

Vainikolo's English club, Bradford, has told him he won't be available for selection for the two tests against Great Britain, or the tournament final if New Zealand qualify.

Instead, he will have surgery on a knee injury next week to give him time to recover for the start of the next English Super League season.

Vainikolo said he was lifted by the gritty come-from-behind performance of the Kiwis at North Harbour Stadium, a match he missed because of his involvement in the English Super League grand final.

"It was awesome and I want to go out there and do the same. That's what I'm planning to do."

A noted finisher, Vainikolo has scored 12 tries in as many tests.

His strike rate was even more impressive in the just-completed English season. Both he and Leeds halfback Danny McGuire grabbed 39 tries each, breaking the previous Super League record by 10.

The tries were so numerous that the man nicknamed The Volcano could not remember exactly how many he scored.

"It was 38 or 39. My previous best was about 21. I was shocked I could do it. It's just because I played with a great bunch of guys," he said.

Vainikolo formed a phenomenal partnership with centre and fellow former-Warrior Shontayne Hape, who bagged 24 tries of his own for the Bulls. The form of the uncapped Hape earned him a place on the Kiwi tour.

"We're really good partners and we know what to expect," Vainikolo said.

"We're just cruising. We go out and enjoy ourselves, and try to be in the right place at the right time."

Meanwhile, Australian second rower Craig Fitzgibbon was expecting a much improved performance from both sides compared with a week ago, when many players were having their first match in weeks.

"We were a bit rusty, obviously, as were the Kiwis," he said.

"Both teams will improve and the standard of football will probably be better."

Fitzgibbon missed the Auckland test because of a shoulder injury and admitted that the close nature of the contest made it tough to watch from the sidelines.

He was not surprised by the performance of the Kiwis, who had been written off by some Australian critics.

"We went over there last year and we couldn't beat them," he said, referring to New Zealand's 30-16 upset at the same venue last October.

"They were in their own stadium and in front of their own crowd, and there's obviously a lot of pride in their jersey. They played very well and I think the boys were pretty happy to get a draw."

While the Australians will again start favourites, Fitzgibbon said the Kangaroos were wary of the threat posed by the Kiwis, despite four changes in personnel because of player unavailability.

"They've obviously got the wind in their sails. They've got confidence and confident sides are dangerous.

"No one buys into favouritism. As soon as you get on the field all that goes out the window."

- NZPA