League: You left Ali out? What were you thinking?

Since being shown the door at Ericsson Stadium, former Warriors coach Daniel Anderson seems not only to have been out of sight, but out of the range of league on television.

Or maybe he's just got an unhealthy dose of that old Aussie attitude that you just don't rate anything that happens in Mother England. Whatever's going on in the Kiwi coach's head, it's clear he doesn't think much of the English Super League, choosing just one player, Thomas Leuluai from that competition, to line up against Australia in the Anzac test tonight.

Has Anderson forgotten that just six months ago, a Great Britain team selected from that competition embarrassed the Kiwis in the Tri-Series and gave Australia a fright before losing disastrously in the final?

And this year, the Leeds Rhinos took out the World Club Challenge against the Bulldogs.

The English Super League is no longer a mediocre competition targeted by over-the-hill Australians and New Zealanders who can't make the NRL.

The football is fast, slick, creative and tough!

By ignoring some of the outstanding New Zealand talent in the competition, Anderson has done himself a disservice.

And the exclusion of Ali Lauitiiti from the Kiwi lineup is nothing short of astounding.

I'd rate it as something like Wayne Bennett leaving Darren Lockyer out of the Australian side.

At this time New Zealand has arguably the two most damaging and creative attacking second-rowers in the world. One, Sonny Bill Williams is out injured; the other, Ali Lauitiiti can't even make the squad of 17.

That's a joke.

One can only be left wondering if this is just another replay of the problems which were apparent at the Warriors between Anderson and Lauitiiti.

Granted, Anderson may have had to do some patching-up of the squad following a run of recent injuries.

This situation has put the Kiwis behind the eight ball somewhat as they seek some redemption after a poor effort in the Tri-Series.

But there's a great deal more than a win riding on tonight's test.

With two shameful second-half Kiwi capitulations in the Tri-Series, league fans here have had little to cheer about in recent times.

A stirring victory against the world champions would be just what the doctor ordered, particularly when you contemplate the wall-to-wall coverage of the Lions tour about to descend on us.

Few Kiwi test sides, as far as I can recall, have been free of injury problems. This outfit is no different.

But Anderson and his selectors now have a greater depth of experienced players to choose from than any previous Kiwi coaches. He well knows the pressure he is under, so he must have the players he wants.

I see two key trios in each side. First, the fullback and two wings. Then, the five-eighth, halfback and loose forward trio of both teams.

Makeshift Kiwi fullback Jerome Ropati will be put under intense pressure but he has shown at the Warriors that he is capable. Matt Utai and Jamaal Lolesi are both in reasonable form but will need to take every chance they are given.

David Kidwell at loose forward, Leuluai at half and Benji Marshall at five-eighth will be the busiest Kiwi players working on the edges of the ruck.

Marshall is the player most eyes will be on and I think he is capable of handling the pressure well. The big worry is that the Australians will make sure he has an enormous defensive workrate as they direct their big men at him time after time.

But Marshall has that special magic about him that can't be coached.

Although he is very much an individual player his constant probing with ball in hand has the potential to put Australia on the back foot. But his talent will be wasted if the Kiwis play the same type of bash-and-barge game they tried last year in the Tri-Series.

I also expect to see him running off Paul Rauhihi, who is a great offloader. In fact these two could be the keys if the Kiwis are to win.

Australia definitely has the advantage with their backline trio of Anthony Minichiello at fullback and Luke Rooney and Matt Sing on the wings.

Add to that Darren Lockyer at five-eighth, Brett Kimmorley at half and the punishingly reliable Tonie Carroll at loose forward and that all spells trouble for the Kiwis.

Some will say Australia also have an advantage at hooker with the Panthers' Luke Priddis because he is so smart out of dummy half. But Louis Anderson is very talented and I have faith he will do the job for the Kiwis.

Australia and New Zealand are pretty evenly matched in most other positions. But I would be a lot more confident if Lance Hohaia was on the bench covering the halfback and five-eighth spots - and he can also kick goals.

It is in the goal-kicking department that the Kiwis could be most severely embarrassed. It is hard to believe that they would go into a test without a recognised goal-kicker.

Ruben Wiki is an inspirational captain and playing what could possibly be his last test. I'm picking he will have a blinder.

But as I have said, there is a lot more than a win riding on tonight's game.

The NZRL has brushed the Kiwis' abysmal performance in the Tri-Series under the carpet. It's not acceptable.

Now this game puts the coach, the selectors, Sel Pearson and his NZRL board under the microscope.

League in New Zealand has had to do it the hard way for a long time and, in many cases, against very unfair odds. The odds are far closer now than they have ever been, when you consider how many Kiwi players are starting in the NRL and Super League.

Kiwi sides a lot worse than this one have taken on and beaten Australia - on most occasions, victory was achieved on the back of pride, emotion and hard graft.

History will once again be the judge tonight of whether this mix is strong enough to succeed over what has been a very ordinary selection process for the Kiwis.

If it is not, some people will yet again have a lot to answer for.