Warriors front-rower Suaia Matagi is in line to make his Kiwis rugby league debut against the country he previously represented, Samoa, in Saturday's Four Nations clash.
The 26-year-old prop, who played for Samoa at last year's World Cup, has been named on the bench for the match at Toll Stadium in Whangarei.
Hooker Issac Luke is also included in the squad after completing a two-match suspension that meant he missed South Sydney's NRL grand final triumph and also the Kiwis' impressive opening round win over Australia last weekend.
Luke comes in for Thomas Leuluai in one of two changes to the starting 13.
The other is on the wing, where giant Warriors star Manu Vatuvei replaces Gerard Beale.
The match will be a special occasion for Wests Tigers prop Adam Blair, whose 29th cap will come in his home town.
New Zealand: Peta Hiku, Jason Nightingale, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Dean Whare, Manu Vatuvei, Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson, Jesse Bromwich, Issac Luke, Adam Blair, Simon Mannering (capt), Kevin Proctor, Jason Taumalolo. Interchange (from): Lewis Brown, Suia Matagi, Martin Taupau, Tohu Harris, Boden Thompson.
Share
