Australia coach Tim Sheens has dismissed suggestions his decision to recall Petero Civoniceva for their Four Nations opener against New Zealand has exposed the Kangaroos' "soft underbelly".

The 33-year-old front row has not played since June because of a toe injury but Sheens, speaking of the trans-Tasman rivals clash at the Twickenham Stoop here on Saturday, said Civoniceva's lack of match fitness was not a concern.

"I think we've already sniffed that New Zealand and England feel that that's our soft underbelly, particularly with Petero not having played for a while," Sheens said here on Thursday.

"He's just seen the time off as a pre-season for him and then he's looking forward to his first game back and trained very hard. I'm very happy with the way he's going."

Australia will hand debuts to three players on Saturday.

St George Illawarra winger Brett Morris and prop forwards Ben Hannant (Canterbury) and Brett White (Melbourne) will run out for the Kangaroos for the first time in a repeat of the November 2008 World Cup final.

Morris saw off competition from twin brother Josh and Penrith's Michael Jennings to secure the wing berth left open by an injury to Israel Folau.

Parramatta's highly-rated Jarryd Hayne, normally a full-back, is Australia's other winger.

At the other end of the experience spectrum to Australia's new boys, captain Darren Lockyer is set to become the Kangaroos' most-capped player of all-time, surpassing the record he currently shares with Mal Meninga of 46 Tests.

New Zealand, who stunned hosts and favourites Australia to win last year's World Cup final, will be without Greg Eastwood.

The 22-year-old has failed to recover from a hamstring injury after winning his 10th cap at loose forward in the 40-24 win over Tonga in Rotorua last week.

Melbourne's Adam Blair moves into Eastwood's slot while front row Frank-Paul Nuuausala reverts to the interchange to make way for Fuifui Moimoi in the only personnel change to the side that beat Tonga.

"Greg has been troubled by a tight hamstring this week," said New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney. "We had hoped he'd recover but at this early stage of the tournament we don't want to take a risk with it."

Nearly a year ago New Zealand producing a stunning upset to beat hosts and favourites Australia 34-20 in the World Cup final in Brisbane.

Adding extra spice on Saturday's is that the referee will be Steve Ganson.

The Englishman infuriated Australia during the World Cup final when, as the video referee, he awarded a contentious penalty try to New Zealand, after the Kiwis' Lance Hohaia was taken out by Kangaroo winger Joel Monaghan, despite suggestions Hohaia might not have beaten Billy Slater to the ball.

England and France kick-off the tournament on Friday in Doncaster, northern England.

Teams for the Four Nations match between Australia and New Zealand at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday (1900GMT kick-off):

(1-13)

Australia

Billy Slater (Melbourne); Brett Morris (St George Illawarra), Greg Inglis (Melbourne), Justin Hodges (Brisbane), Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta); Darren Lockyer (Brisbane, capt), Jonathan Thurston (North Queensland); Ben Hannant (Canterbury), Cameron Smith (Melbourne), Petero Civoniceva (Penrith), Anthony Watmough (Manly), Trent Waterhouse (Penrith), Ryan Hoffman (Melbourne).

Interchange: Brett White (Melbourne), Sam Thaiday (Brisbane), Paul Gallen (Cronulla), Kurt Gidley (Newcastle)

New Zealand

Lance Hohaia (NZ Warriors); Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters/AUS), Steve Matai (Manly/AUS), Junior Sa'u (Newcastle/AUS), Bryson Goodwin (Canterbury Bulldogs); Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers/AUS, capt), Nathan Fien (St George Illawarra/AUS); Jeff Lima (Melbourne/AUS), Isaac Luke (South Sydney/AUS), Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta/AUS), Bronson Harrison (Canberra/AUS), Frank Pritchard (Penrith/AUS), Adam Blair (Melbourne/AUS).

Interchange: Thomas Leuluai (Wigan/ENG), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters/AUS), Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters/AUS), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly/AUS)

Referee: Steve Ganson (ENG)

AFP

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