League: Injury concerns for Kiwis pair

Adam Blair. Photo / Getty Images

The Kiwis' preparations for the Anzac rugby league test against the Kangaroos suffered potential setbacks today when Adam Blair and Nathan Fien stepped gingerly from the training field.

Blair was the major concern after he rolled an ankle near the end of the session. His left foot was heavily strapped although Kiwis team doctor Simon Mayhew is optimistic the 21-test veteran will be available for the match on Friday.

"It's a mild sprain so as a precaution we're icing him up. We've got some compression on it so we'll see how he goes in the next 24 hours," Mayhew said.

Fien, who was named to start at hooker shortly before the session started, also headed for the treatment table after tweaking a pre-existing hamstring strain.

"Nathan pulled up himself because his hammy was feeling a little bit tight. He's feeling comfortable, no worse than he was this time last week," Mayhew said.

He thinks the pair will be fit to run on Skilled Park although the next 24 hours will be crucial.

"I wouldn't have thought they're in doubt but we'll see what they're like tomorrow. Twenty-four hours gives us a bit of hindsight."

If Fien or Blair were ruled out New Zealand Warriors utility Lewis Brown would make his test debut.

Brown and Brisbane Broncos fullback Gerard Beale were predictably omitted from the 17-man line-up when they were confirmed by Kiwis head coach Stephen Kearney today.

Recalled prop Fuifui Moimoi is also nursing a sore arm - the legacy of surgery that ruled him out of last year's Four Nations tournament - but he will wear a protective guard and play off the interchange bench.

Meanwhile, concerns have eased over Paul Gallen's calf injury and he will start in the Kangaroos pack.

Kiwis side: Lance Hohaia, Matthew Duffie, Simon Mannering, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Jason Nightingale, Benji Marshall (captain), Kieran Foran, Sam Rapira, Nathan Fien, Sam McKendry, Adam Blair, Bronson Harrison, Jeremy Smith.

Interchange: Issac Luke, Ben Matulino, Fuifui Moimoi, Greg Eastwood. Lewis Brown (18th man).