NZ Kiwis will roll out an unchanged gameday squad for their Pacific Championship clash with Australia in Melbourne on Saturday.
The Kiwis’ demolition of Toa Samoa on Saturday followed Australia’s 38-12 victory over the beaten Rugby League World Cup finalist on October 14, ensuring the trans-Tasman neighbours will meet in the final at FMG Stadium in Hamilton on November 4.
Kieran Foran retains the starting hooker role he slid into late last weekend, keeping Fa'amanu Brown on the interchange bench.
The teams will face off in just the fourth test between the two countries in the Victorian capital. The first was in 1991 when the New Zealanders famously stunned the Australians 24-8 at Olympic Park.
They met at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome in the 2006 Tri Nations, the Kiwis leading 15-14 before Australia scored late to win 20-15.
Their last meeting was at AAMI Park in the 2006 Anzac Test when the Kangaroos held on for 12-8 triumph.
NZ Kiwis: 1- Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2-Ronaldo Mulitako, 3-Matthew Timoko, 4-Joseph Manu, 5-Jamyane Isaako, 6-Dylan Brown, 7-Jahrome Hughes, 8-James Fisher-Harris, 9- Kieran Foran, 10-Moses Leota, 11-Isaiah Papali'I, 12-Briton Nikora, 13-Joseph Tapine
Interchange: 14–Fa'amanu Brown, 15-Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 16-Griffin Neame, 17-Leo Thompson
