Kiwi coach David Kidwell has brought back nearly 100 Tests of experience for Saturday's crucial Pool B Rugby League World Cup clash against Mate Ma'a Tonga at FMG Stadium in Hamilton.
After sitting out the Kiwis' 74-6 victory over Scotland, veterans Thomas Leuluai returns at hooker while Simon Mannering returns in the back row.
Jordan Rapana will start on the right wing while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak gets his first ever chance to play in front of his home crowd in Hamilton, partnering with club team-mate Dean Whare on the left wing and centre respectively.
Kodi Nikorima will join Shaun Johnson in the halves with Te Maire Martin named in 19.
Isaac Liu is the only change to the bench, which continues to look to Russell Packer, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Danny Levi to add a further spark during the match.
Apart from Whare coming into the centres for the injured Gerard Beale, the line-up is the same as the one used in the Kiwis' 38-8 win over Toa Samoa on October 28.
RLWC2017 | NEW ZEALAND KIWIS v MATE MA'A TONGA
5.00pm, Saturday, November 11
FMG Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
NEW ZEALAND KIWIS
(Kiwi numbers in brackets)
1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (#779) 14 Tests
2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK (#794) 4 Tests
3 DEAN WHARE (#776) 17 Tests
4 BRAD TAKAIRANGI (#803) 2 Tests
5 JORDAN RAPANA (#798) 6 Tests
6 KODI NIKORIMA (#793) 6 Tests
7 SHAUN JOHNSON (#774) 23 Tests
8 MARTIN TAUPAU (#785) 18 Tests
9 THOMAS LEULUAI (#704) 39 Tests
10 JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES (#755) 21 Tests
11 SIMON MANNERING (#731) 43 Tests
12 JOSEPH TAPINE (#800) 4 Tests
13 ADAM BLAIR (#732) 43 Tests (c)
Interchange:
14 NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA (804) 2 Tests
15 RUSSELL PACKER (#768) 5 Tests
16 ISAAC LIU (#805) 1 Test
17 DANNY LEVI (#806) 2 Tests
18 KENNY BROMWICH (#796) 3 Tests
19 TE MAIRE MARTIN (#802) 2 Tests
20 ELIJAH TAYLOR (#770) 11 Tests
21 PETA HIKU (#781) 10 Tests
HEAD COACH | DAVID KIDWELL
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