KEY POINTS:
At least two players will make their debut for the Kiwis in Brisbane on Friday night, with four newcomers named in a 19-man squad to be whittled down tomorrow.
The surprise is Parramatta fullback/centre Krisnan Inu, 20, a former Junior Kiwi who only recently made his NRL debut.
He is almost certain to play as regular fullback Brent Webb is unavailable due to the birth at the weekend of his first son.
The other newcomers to the Kiwis ranks are Auckland-born Brisbane Broncos utility Greg Eastwood, 20, and Warriors props Sam Rapira, also 20, and Evarn Tuimavave, 22.
Coach Brian McClennan acknowledged the problems putting the best team out at this time of the year but labelled the Anzac test "very much the beginning of a project".
"We're moving into a new era with Ruben [Wiki] and Nigel [Vagana] now off the test scene. We have picked some young players as we look ahead to next year's World Cup."
Nine of the 19 played in last year's Tri-Nations, eight in the final - Roy Asotasi, Nathan Cayless, David Fa'alogo, Dene Halatau, Simon Mannering, Frank Pritchard, Iosia Soliola and Manu Vatuvei.
Not considered because of injury were Shontayne Hape (knee), Steve Matai (ankle), David Kidwell (knee) and Adam Blair (ankle). Warriors utility Lance Hohaia was ruled out after leaving the field with a serious gash around his ear suffered during the Cowboys game yesterday.
The squad assembles in Brisbane today, with the final 17-man line-up plus the naming of the captain to succeed the long-serving Wiki to be announced tomorrow.
KIWIS V AUSTRALIA
Anzac test, Friday, Brisbane 10.30pm
* Kiwis: Krisnan Inu, Jake Webster, Manu Vatuvei, Iosia Soliola, Paul Whatuira, Ben Roberts, Benji Marshall, Roy Asotasi, Nathan Cayless, Sam Rapira, Evarn Tuimavave, David Faiumu, Dene Halatau, Greg Eastwood, David Fa'alogo, Simon Mannering, Frank Pritchard, Tony Puletua, Sonny Bill Williams.
* Kangaroos: Karmichael Hunt, Brent Tate, Jamie Lyon, Justin Hodges, Matt King, Darren Lockyer (c), Johnathan Thurston, Brent Kite, Cameron Smith, Petero Civoniceva, Willie Mason, Nathan Hindmarsh, Andrew Ryan. Interchange: Luke Bailey, Shaun Berrigan, Steve Simpson, Anthony Tupou.
