The Kiwis assistant coach David Kidwell says New Zealand's historic victories over Australia in last year's Four Nations tournament will count for little in tonight's ANZAC rugby league test in Brisbane.
The Kiwis' playmaker Thomas Leuluai, coach Stephen Kearney and captain Simon Mannering during the captains run. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Winning the one-off match has proven a near-impossible task for the Kiwis in the past, they've triumphed in just one of the 15 ANZAC Tests and that was more than 17 years ago.
However expectations for a New Zealand victory are higher than ever following their consecutive wins over the Kanagaroos on their way to the Four Nations title.
It was the first time in more than 60 years the Kiwis had beaten Australia twice in a row, though Kidwell said those results will have no bearing on tonight's match.
"It's a new year, it's another Test, we have to go up another level and the boys know that."
"We know we're up against an extremely tough Australian team but were just going on about our business worrying about ourselves, we're up for a new challenge tonight."
Brisbane has been hit by heavy rain meaning neither team couldn't train on Suncorp Stadium for Thursday's captain runs.
The inclement weather is dominating the lead-up to the Test.
The pitch has been flooded by heavy rain, with ground staff using high-powered heat lamps over the pitch in an attempt to dry it out.
More wet weather is forecast for Brisbane tonight with residents urged to prepare for potential flooding due to the storm.
