ANZAC Test: Australia v New Zealand preview

New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney is confident his side can end their barren run in the annual ANZAC Test with a victory over Australia in Brisbane on Sunday.

The match had been due to take place on Friday but had to be postponed because of a saturated pitch following 24 hours of torrential rain. 

The Kiwis have not won the annual mid-season trans-Tasman showdown since 1998 but they will head to the Suncorp Stadium in buoyant mood after securing back-to-back victories over the Kangaroos in the 2014 Four Nations Series.

Kearney's men are still on a high from their 22-18 final triumph in Wellington, which followed a 30-12 win in Brisbane earlier in the tournament, and are now fancied to make it three straight wins over Australia for the first time since 1953.

A victory would also enable New Zealand to leapfrog Australia in the world rankings for the first time if they also defeat England in the end-of-year three-match Test series in the UK.

"From our point of view we take some positive parts out of last year," Kearney said.

"They're different teams - Australia has some key personnel returning so that will make a huge difference - but we know, if we bring our best game to the stadium, we'll give ourselves the best opportunity and that's how we've prepared all week.

"I'm super confident that will happen."

'Even teams'

Australia coach Tim Sheens admits he is expecting a close contest.

"They are both even teams and that showed last year," he said. "Even though we've been fortunate to get away with it in the last few years, the score belies the true nature of the game in just how tough it was last year in particular.

"The conditions are obviously going to be tough but it will be a good game and I've got confidence in our preparation and we've got a huge respect for the Kiwis."

Bad weather in Brisbane forced both teams to complete their final training runs at suburban grounds rather than Suncorp Stadium.

Australia will give debuts to four players after wingers Josh Dugan and Alex Johnston and centre Will Chambers were named in the starting side, while prop Trent Merrin is on the interchange bench.

Full-back Billy Slater failed a fitness test on his shoulder and withdrew this week, enabling Greg Inglis to move from the centres to his regular club position with NRL champions South Sydney, with Michael Jennings called into the centres. 

New Zealand have most of their Four Nations squad available and also welcome back former Hull prop Sam Moa and ex-Wigan favourite Thomas Leuluai, who missed the final through injury after playing the pool games.

Australia: 1 Greg Inglis, 2 Alex Johnston, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Will Chambers, 5 Josh Dugan, 6 Jonathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith (capt),10  Aaron Woods, 11 Greg Bird, 12 Sam Thaiday, 13 Corey Parker.

Interchange: 14 Luke Lewis, 15 Trent Merrin, 16 Nate Myles, 17 James Tamou.

New Zealand squad: Jesse Bromwich, Lewis Brown, Greg Eastwood, Kieran Foran, Tohu Harris, Peta Hiku, Shaun Johnson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Thomas Leuluai, Issac Luke, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Sam Moa, Kevin Proctor, Matin Taupau, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Manu Vatuvei, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.