League: Last-gasp call on Wiki's fitness

Ruben Wiki. Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images

BRISBANE - Kiwis captain Ruben Wiki remains in doubt for tonight's test in Brisbane against the Kangaroos.

Wiki's hamstring injury has improved throughout the week but concern still surrounds his appearance with medical staff set to make a last-minute call whether he takes the field, despite him completing training yesterday.

Should he be ruled out it will be a big blow for the Kiwis who have closed the gap with the Kangaroos.

The score will not resemble the 52-0 thrashing dished out by Australia in 2000, nor the 48-6 as it was a couple of years ago at Sydney, nor the 24-0 by which the Kiwis won the Tri-Nations in Leeds last year.

The Kiwis tanked a ton of self-belief from that Tri-Nations triumph and just as importantly the two games that preceded it in Sydney and Auckland but expect a tight encounter tonight.

Despite pre-match talk of a bash-up, the game is likely to be intense and physical but free of dirt.

The advantage Australia have is in their kicking game. But they will also use the Andrew Johns and Darren Lockyer long cut-out pass to pick out runners on the flanks. They will fancy their chances of outpacing the Kiwis.

The Kiwis will attempt to play straightforward football with their props and second rowers carting the ball through traffic and their little men, Thomas Leuluai, Benji Marshall and Brent Webb, aiming to collect off-loads at pace.

This requires one crucial component - quick play-the-balls.

It's a given that the Aussies will target Marshall. If he defends centre field, their big forwards will run at him. If the Kiwis try to hide him on the wing in defence as the Tigers have done on occasions he may be in trouble because he will not have the forwards to save him in the tackle.

Centre Clinton Toopi has switched from right centre to left, so perhaps Marshall will play that side too with the defensively sound Warrior as his minder.

It's also sure the Kangaroos will kick to Tame Tupou, on the right wing, sending bombs and grubbers his way.

Kiwis coach Brian McClennan wasn't giving anything away when asked whether Marshall or Leuluai would start and what game-time they and star second rower Sonny Bill Williams would get.

But it is likely he will again use the positional ploys that worked at Leeds, the centres interchanging at lock. That would allow Williams to go wide and take on the Kangaroos backs, where his pace, fend, strength and off-load could be lethal.

Johns has declared it his job to shut down Marshall and Williams around the Kiwis' ruck.

* Kiwis v Kangaroos Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 9.30 tonight