Richie Barnett: Kiwis squad loaded with potential

The Kiwis face a typically tough task to upset the Kangaroos in front of a packed Suncorp Stadium crowd. Photo / Getty Images

There is a new look to the Australian side that will take on the Kiwis tomorrow night but I don't expect their changes will unsettle them or affect the way in which they look to play the game.

The five Kangaroos making their debut - Daniel Tupou, Josh Mansour, Dylan Walker, Aaron Woods and Aidan Guerra - will be under the microscope but what they lack in test experience they are sure to make up for in enthusiasm and a desire to prove themselves.

However, it does present issues for the Kangaroos in terms of combinations and how well the new players can gel within the side, and that is not something they have had to deal with much in recent times.

It is a problem that has regularly confronted New Zealand sides, together with their usual rushed build-up over four days, but this time around the Kiwis have had close to a week to prepare and develop their combinations.

That's enabled them to get in some quality training sessions with plenty of intensity about them, with two former Kiwis, Quentin Pongia and Clinton Toopi, assisting in defence and really putting the heat on the likes of Kieran Foran to make the right decisions and take the right fifth-tackle options.

This is ideal because I expect the Kangaroos will aim to pressure the Kiwis halves, Foran and Shaun Johnson, who will need to control the game.

Despite the new faces within the Australian team they will still back themselves to take charge in the final quarter.

The way coach Stephen Kearney uses his substitutions will be critical to keeping the Kiwis playing at the right tempo so the fatigue levels within the forwards will need to be closely monitored.

Both props, Jesse Bromwich and Adam Blair, can get through plenty of work and get around the park well, while Greg Eastwood is more of an impact player and will add plenty coming off the bench.

Tohu Harris, Martin Taupau and Eastwood are all capable of playing through the middle, while the side has some good combinations and under-standing developing among those names, and also with the likes of Simon Mannering and Kevin Proctor as well.

Playing under one referee could have implications, too. With just one official controlling play it can be easier for defenders to slow down the play-the-ball and win control of the ruck.

In the past, the Aussie forwards have generally been better in that department and always seemed to have that fraction of a second more so that's an area where the Kiwis will need to be more effective.

Defensive combinations, particularly out wide, will also be vital to the Kiwis' hopes. The Kangaroos will attack with structure and look to isolate defenders one and two in from the sideline, so the Kiwis' edge tacklers need to be spot-on with their decision-making.

Gerard Beale's selection on the wing in place of the injured Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is one that has been made with an eye to what might unfold later in the tournament.

Beale is a genuine back-up to fullback Peta Hiku, and can also play on the flank or in midfield, so Kearney will have wanted to give him some game time in case he is required to fill a gap in the games to come.

The Kiwis face a typically tough task to upset the Kangaroos in front of a packed Suncorp Stadium crowd but if they can tick the boxes in the areas discussed above they will give themselves every chance of getting the win. The public might see that as an upset but if they play to their potential and believe and trust in each other the game is theirs for the taking.