Regular fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has beaten out Canberra Raiders star Sebastian Kris for a start in the centres for the Kiwis' Rugby League World Cup opener on Monday (NZT).
Nicoll-Klokstad will partner Peta Hiku in the New Zealand midfield against Lebanon, in the only change from their last international against Mata Ma'a Tonga in June.
He scored two tries in the Kiwis' 74-0 warm-up victory over Leeds last week and was expected to push Sydney Roosters star Joseph Manu for the fullback spot.
Instead, head coach Michael Maguire has favoured the incoming NZ Warriors fullback over Kris, despite his first-half hat-trick on debut against Leeds.
Nicoll-Klokstad previously spoke about shifting to the centres and suggested it could be a position he finds himself in, after moving in-field during the warm-up win.
"It was cool," he added. "I really enjoyed being back in the front line.
"It's obviously a different role compared to fullback.
"You're not roaming around as much, and doing a lot more tackles.
"I really, really, really enjoyed being back in the front line and [I'm] looking forward to seeing what happens moving forward."
After the World Cup, Nicoll-Klokstad will return to the Warriors for 2023 after signing a three-year deal earlier this year.
Maguire's 17-man line-up includes four players featured in the NRL Grand Final this season including Penrith Panthers front-rowers James Fisher-Harris and prop Moses Leota.
Parramatta Eels' standoff Dylan Brown starts, with Isaiah Papali'i named in the second row and Marata Niukore included in the extended 19-man squad.
Meanwhile, Lebanon head coach Michael Cheika has included NRL stars Mitchell Moses, Josh Mansour and Adam Doueihi in his squad to play the Kiwis.
Kiwis: 1-Joseph Manu, 2-Ronaldo Mulitalo, 21-Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 4-Peta Hiku, 5-Jordan Rapana, 6-Dylan Brown, 7-Jahrome Hughes, 8-Jesse Bromwich, 9-Brandon Smith, 10-James Fisher-Harris, 11-Isaiah Papali'i, 12-Kenny Bromwich, 13-Joseph Tapine
Interchange: 14-Kieran Foran, 15-Moses Leota, 16-Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 17-Briton Nikora, 19-Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3-Marata Niukore
Check out the Rugby League World Cup live on Spark Sport or free-to-air on Three, or join us at 7:30am Monday for live updates of the Kiwis v Lebanon pool encounter.
