Kiwis v Kangaroos: Afternoon heat won't be a factor in Anzac test

The Kiwis and Kangaroos face off in Brisbane at 6pm NZT. Photo / Getty Images

The Kiwis claim the hot conditions expected for today's Anzac test won't be a key factor, as the team prepares for their first day time clash with Australian in almost four years.

After the test was washed out on Friday night - due to freakish weather which saw more than 200mm of rain hit Brisbane in a 24 hour period - the match will be played today in the heat of the afternoon.

It's a perfect day in the Queensland capital and temperatures could reach as high as 30 degrees Celsius by 4pm kick off local time (6pm NZT).

Local pundits expect the conditions to favour the Kangaroos, but the New Zealand side have downplayed the impact of the rescheduling.

"We have trained all pre-season in the heat so it is not going to be too much of a factor," said Kiwis back rower Greg Eastwood. "We train for all kinds of conditions and it will be the same for both teams."

"Weather is an attitude thing," agreed team mate Tohu Harris. "Nothing really changes - you have to put in for the whole 80 [minutes] or you get beat."

The Kiwis haven't played many matches in the afternoon in recent years - due to television networks preferring an evening kick-off - but their rare day time outings haven't been convincing.

In last year's Four Nations they faced Samoa in Whangarei and put in a scratchy effort, needing a 75th minute Shaun Kenny-Dowall try to escape with a 14-12 win.

The last time they faced Australia in the afternoon was highly forgettable, as they were crushed 42-6 in 2011. The Kiwis didn't score a point until the 53rd minute as the Kangaroos ran riot in Newcastle. There are a few survivors from that match lining up today, with Lewis Brown, Jason Nightingale, Kieran Foran, Simon Mannering and Issac Luke for the Kiwis and Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith, Matt Scott, Luke Lewis, Sam Thaiday and Cooper Cronk on the Australian side.

Before that, you need to go back to 2007 to find another trans tasman test in the afternoon. The two teams faced off in Wellington to celebrate the centernary of New Zealand rugby league but it was a disasterous day for the hosts. Steve Matai was sent off early in the first half and the Kiwis never recovered, beaten 58-0 by a rampant Australian team. The Kangaroos led 26-0 at halftime, and Greg Inglis (three tries) and Israel Folau (two) stood out for the visitors.