Kiwis keen for Anzac test

New Zealand Warriors utility Lewis Brown is edging towards his international debut as Northlander Adam Blair's ankle injury remained a serious concern on the eve of tonight's Anzac test against the Kangaroos.
Brown, a non-playing member of last year's victorious Four Nations campaign, was yesterday warned he could be promoted from 18th-man duties at Skilled Park as Blair iced his swollen joint at the team hotel.
An integral member of the Kiwis pack, Blair was confident of being available. Team doctor Simon Mayhew was also optimistic though Blair would have had to pass a fitness test early today.
Blair, a 21-test veteran, rolled his left ankle during training on Wednesday and has subsequently iced it at regular intervals by dipping his foot in a chilly bin for 15-minute periods.
"He's saying he'll be okay. He's a model patient and its improved overnight so that's encouraging," Mayhew said yesterday.
Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney said Blair would be given every opportunity to start in the second row and understandably so given the stresses his absence would cause.
He is considered close to an 80-minute performer - that durability influenced the decision to select Greg Eastwood on the interchange bench despite the Bulldogs utility only logging 50 minutes of game time during the first eight rounds of the NRL competition.
Teammates rallied round Brown during their final training run at the test venue yesterday though Kearney said the back-slapping was no indication Blair was already ruled out.
"I made them aware if Adam doesn't pull up any good Lewie's part of the group," he said.
"He'll be ready. He was unlucky not to play for New Zealand at the back end of last year [Four Nations]. It's just a matter of time for him. He's improved a lot over the last 18 months."
Brown started his career as a hooker, but has primarily been used as a second rower at the Warriors - he is currently in the centres with captain Simon Mannering.
If Christchurch-born Brown is called up, his first cap will be particularly poignant as 250 Cantabrians affected by February's devastating earthquake, including 90 emergency service personnel, have been flown over to attend the game originally scheduled for the AMI Stadium on May 1.
Meanwhile, fears have eased over Nathan Fien's hamstring injury - he also sat out training but is expected to start at hooker.
The Australian camp was confident Paul Gallen (calf) and Matt Scott (ankle) would pass muster after barely training this week though recalled centre Justin Hodges could be in doubt after suffering back spasms. Willie Tonga has been called into the Kangaroos camp as cover.NZPA