League: Less is more for Warriors

Lance Hohaia is likely to be picked at fullback for the Kiwis. Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors might be relieved when only a few of their players are named in Stephen Kearney's Kiwis side tonight for Friday's Anzac test in Melbourne.

The likelihood is that a minimum of two and a maximum of four players will be picked from the Auckland-based franchise. In NRL terms, less is more.

A bye next weekend gives the team the ideal chance to rest their incumbents and deliver normal first-choice Kiwis Simon Mannering and Manu Vatuvei back to fitness for round 10 after their nagging hamstring injuries.

Of the Warriors, Lance Hohaia looks a certainty at fullback while Sam Rapira appears to have done enough to start at prop.

Strong form from Aaron Heremaia could see him slip in as a back-up hooker to South Sydney's Issac Luke and Ben Matulino might make an interchange appearance if he's persevered with, after being blooded at the end of last year.

However a number of strong contenders loom as back-up in the pack. They include Melbourne's Jeff Lima, Souths' Eddy Pettybourne as well as Roosters pair Frank-Paul Nuuausala and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

Waerea-Hargreaves might only be picked on reputation given a shoulder injury has disrupted his season to date, but his baiting of the Kangaroos during October's Four Nations test may see Kearney opt for him on the basis of pluck.

It will be a battle for Jerome Ropati to convince he's in contention after the good form shown by other centres such as Newcastle's Junior Sau, Manly's Steve Matai and the Roosters' Shaun Kenny-Dowall.

The team will have a similar look to the side that showed glimpses of brilliance and mediocrity in the northern hemisphere.

A potential starting 13 could have players from as many as 11 different NRL clubs. The Roosters' Sam Perrett and Canterbury's Bryson Goodwin look sound bets for the wing spots and Manly's Kieran Foran has arguably been the form five-eighth of the competition, meaning skipper Benji Marshall slots into halfback.

Foran has even been touted by Andrew Johns as capable of becoming the best in the world.

While the forwards on the interchange might be a cause for debate, the pack has its share of certainties.

The Storm have been affected by the salary cap rort but it hasn't harmed Adam Blair's form. He should remain in the number 13 jersey he filled when team-mate Jeremy Smith was unavailable last year.

Frank Pritchard has been a trooper for Penrith and Bronson Harrison and Fuifui Moimoi look safe for returns.

The team now just has to find a solution - presumably mental - to overcome the yips against Australia in this fixture.

In statistics show the Kiwis have won the early-season test only once from the 10 played since the fixture was introduced in 1997 - that was the following year at North Harbour Stadium, the only time the Anzac test has been held in New Zealand.

Every week in the NRL the Kiwis as individuals are combating their Kangaroos counterparts.

There's no reason why that scenario can't repeat in Melbourne on Friday night, much like it did in Brisbane 18 months ago at the World Cup.

The Kiwis

* Possible New Zealand team:

Lance Hohaia, Sam Perrett, Junior Sau, Steve Matai, Bryson Goodwin, Kieran Foran, Benji Marshall, Sam Rapira, Issac Luke, Fuifui Moimoi, Bronson Harrison, Frank Pritchard, Adam Blair.

Interchange: Aaron Heremaia, Jeff Lima, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Eddy Pettybourne.