Scrum halves Stacey Jones and Johnathan Thurston have been billed as key figures in Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby league Test between New Zealand and Australia.
Kiwis veteran Jones lines up against Kangaroos new cap Thurston, who has been handed one of the most onerous tasks in Australian league as the replacement for retired superstar Andrew Johns.
Australia is expected to focus a large part of its defensive effort around Jones, who tried to retire from international league two seasons ago. But his career took on a new lease when he moved from the New Zealand Warriors to the French Super League club Catalans.
The three-country tournament also includes Britain, which plays its first match Oct. 28 in Christchurch, New Zealand, against New Zealand. The final involving the top two teams is set for Nov. 26 in Sydney, Australia.
New Zealand beat Australia 24-0 to win last year's Tri-Nations final, causing the Australians, under new coach Ricky Stuart to manoeuvre themselves into an underdogs role for Saturday's match at Auckland. Stuart said Jones was a key figure in the Kiwis' Tri-Nations victory and was a threat the Kangaroos were ready to acknowledge and counter.
``You saw what Stacey Jones did in the Tri-Nations last year to know that I'm not making stories up,'' Stuart said. ``He's an outstanding player. He's a figurehead to their team.''
Both Australia and New Zealand will field four new caps in their lineups for the Tri-Nations opener, bringing an element of the unknown to the match and adding pressure on veterans such as Jones.
``Both teams are different now. I've got new players, the Kiwis have got new players,'' Stuart said.
``But I keep saying Stacey Jones brings a lot into their football team. He's got ability to make other players play well.''
None of the new caps _ Iosia Soliola, Steve Matai, Simon Mannering and Adam Blair for the Kiwis and Thurston, Greg Inglis, Reni Maitua and Justin Hodges for the Kangaroos _ will face more pressure than Thurston, who has overcome a knee injury to assume Johns' mantle.
Thurston has received endorsement in the role from his opposite number Jones.
``I didn't get to see too much of the NRL from this year, but last year he was the best player for the year,'' Jones said. ``He is very skilful. He has great footwork and we will need to be right on our game to try to contain him.''
Meanwhile, New Zealand coach Brian McClennan has acknowledged Jones' importance to his side.
``Stacey is vital for us,'' he said. ``He brings that wealth of experience but also, having been away for a while, he's looking pretty enthusiastic.
``To have those (new caps) paired up with the likes of Ruben Wiki, David Kidwell, Stacey Jones, Nathan Cayless, Nigel Vagana and Roy Asotasi ... that's a good mix.''
