KEY POINTS:
The Kiwis' hopes of mounting some attack against Great Britain at Huddersfield on Sunday revolve around recalled halves Thomas Leuluai and Lance Hohaia.
Leuluai last played in the 50-12 loss to Australia in the Anzac test in Brisbane in May 2006 but has been a regular at halfback for Wigan, while Hohaia played much of 2007 in the NRL's premier league with the Auckland Lions, making just 10 NRL appearances.
Great Britain have Leeds' Rob Burrow at halfback and Saints' Leon Pryce at five-eighth, both straight out of the Super League grand final.
Lions' new coach Tony Smith comes in as Super League champion after leading Leeds to the title while new Kiwis coach Gary Kemble, barring the disaster in Wellington, coached his last games with Counties-Manukau in the Bartercard Cup in 2006, finishing mid-table.
It's a worry.
The Lions have 11 players straight from the grand final, five from Leeds, six from St Helens. The Kiwis have some who have played only the Australia test or the All Golds game in the last eight weeks.
Then there is the experience of the Great Britain backline, full of test veterans and with the secure Paul Wellens at fullback. New Zealand has rookie wingers and Sam Perrett is making his debut at fullback.
At hooker, the Lions have the experienced specialist Terry Newton. The Kiwis have fill-in utility Dene Halatau.
So New Zealand is well behind the eight-ball in terms of test experience in the critical one, six, seven and nine jerseys and the team coach is lacking recent pressure-cooker preparation.
It's a worry. Consequently it's hard to see the Kiwis pushing Great Britain in this test, let alone winning it.
Kemble took responsibility for a poor preparation that resulted in the 58-0 drubbing in Wellington.
"It was really the preparation, which I'm totally responsible for. Everything had been reviewed since then," he said. "Top to bottom."
He believes the Kiwis are ready to perform on Sunday.
"It looks as though we've turned the corner," Kemble said at training in Leeds yesterday. "The circumstances during that week [in Wellington] - we had to look at management, coaching and the players. Roy [captain Roy Asotasi] and the senior players spoke about it looking for reasons.
"Having the All Golds around us for the last week has helped, with their experience, advice and recommendations it's really helped inspire the guys. They got a bit of confidence especially from them winning.
"For myself, being alongside Wayne Bennett has been good in relation to turning it around." Bennett's comments had assured him he was on the right course, said Kemble.
Sunday was a "tough ask" but the team were determined to make amends for Wellington.
"At 12-0 down, we had turned the ball over three times and given away four penalties," he said, emphasising that they were still in the game up to the point Steve Matai was sent off.
"Despite that and unexpected injury setbacks, you do not drop your bundle when you are in the black and white jersey."
Kemble expects good off-loading and good support play from Great Britain and knows the Kiwis defence cannot afford to miss the 50 tackles they did against Australia.
"We have to shut them down. Once they make a hint of a break, they have very good support."
They need to avoid getting sucked into the Lions' style of game.
"We have our own game plan to play a lot of footy down their end and use our talent."
Leuluai advised New Zealand fans not to underestimate the standard of play in Super League and hence the Lions team.
"I think they're strong - rattle off their back line," said Leuluai. "And tell me who is a bad player."
He is preparing for a tough contest with Burrow.
"He's pretty tough but you've got to find him first. He's fast and he's short. Now he's got a shot, he'll be trying to consolidate his spot for the World Cup, the same as me. I think he's probably been the best halfback in Super League this year, I'm pretty sure he'll show what he can do at the weekend."
Kemble said Jeremy Smith, who was dumped after failing in Wellington, was not out of the picture - it is up to Leuluai to perform.
It is likely Bradford Bulls' teenage star Sam Burgess and St Helens marauding forward Maurie Fa'asavalu will come off the Great Britain bench to make their debut as the only new caps.
Burgess, 18, is Super League's Young Player of the Year and was last week man of the match for the Northern Union against the All Golds.
Fa'asavalu is a former Samoan rugby union player to World Cup level and qualifies for the Lions after three years' residency.
Smith has named a 20-man squad to be whittled down today with wing David Hodgson, second rower Jamie-Jones Buchanan and hooker Jon Clarke the likely drop-outs.
* Souths co-owner Russell Crowe has co-hosted the ESPN Monday Night Football show and used the slot to promo rugby league in the United States.
Crowe gave details about the NRL and the game between his Rabbitohs and Super League champs Leeds at the North Florida University in Jacksonville in January.
Souths have rejected the final two years of a sponsorship deal with 2007 sponsor Firepower.
