KEY POINTS:
New Kiwis coach Gary Kemble is basing much of New Zealand's game plan on combinations.
It's one reason he switched Luke Covell from left to right wing for the test tomorrow - Wests Tigers left wing and Kiwis debutante Taniela Tuiaki will run outside established Kiwis centre Paul Whatuira.
Kemble wants the halves pairing of Jeremy Smith and Ben Roberts to make the seven and six jerseys theirs and hopes to play them in those roles through the tour to England.
The players in the squad for the test against Australia in Wellington tomorrow, then the All Golds game and the four-test tour of Britain and France have been put on notice.
"They have the opportunity to hang around," Kemble said. "We've been straight-up with them, if they don't succeed on this tour then we'll be looking at others coming through, we've been very straight about that."
Kemble is on a tight line himself, the New Zealand Rugby League expecting a 75 per cent winning return. It's a big ask given the Kiwis mainly play Australia and Great Britain, with the odd test against France. But he's just happy to have the job and the opportunity, especially at a time when there is plenty of talent coming through.
Six players make their Kiwis debut tomorrow but all are experienced in the National Rugby League, a vast departure from previous years. There are a host of players injured, including stars Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall.
Kemble has the tour and the Anzac test next May to sort a squad of 26 for the World Cup in Australia at the end of next year.
"There is pressure on the players and that's a good thing for the team," Kemble said.
"We've got two hookers. Dene Halatau has first shot at it [tomorrow] and David Faiumu is right up his backside and he's trying to take that nine jersey off him. David Kidwell will not walk straight back into the test team if the second-rowers do their job tomorrow."
There was still very much a family atmosphere in the Kiwis' camp the coach said. "There's also that ruthlessness that we are trying to create in the culture."
In the past New Zealand has relied on a power game based around huge forwards and a four-forward bench. Kemble has come in at a time when there are choices in the key positions of one, six, seven and nine - Krisnan Inu will push Brent Webb for the fullback spot; at five-eighth there is Roberts, Rangi Chase from the Dragons and their centre Chase Stanley who plays in six for the All Golds, plus Marshall; at seven Smith will have to hold out Thomas Leuluai on the tour and in future beat him, former Kiwi Lance Hohaia, Junior Kiwis Eddie Paea and Liam Foran; at hooker there is Nathan Fien and Souths junior Luke Isaac.
The big focus in preparation for this test and the tour is taking the right options.
"In the past we have played the power game but we've given away too much ball. I've stressed to them, especially the halves, about taking the right options," Kemble said.
"You won't get many chances against Australia and it's crucial that when you do you make the right decisions and nail them."
Kemble wants to see the Kiwis take a new direction in game approach. "Hopefully, if it's dry, I think you'll see a bit of a change. We have to win the arm wrestle of course. Hopefully, if the weather's good, we would then like to use the ball."
What does he expect from the Aussies?
"They've picked a work-oriented forward pack. They will grind away and grind away and grind away and bank on wearing us down."
With 14 of the Kiwis 17 coming straight out of NRL finals and Shontayne Hape from the Super League playoffs, Kemble has confidence the side will not crack easily.
