Civoneciva out, Price in for
Aussies - Wiki cited, Vaealiki out for Kiwis

Bulldogs captain Steven Price has been rushed into the Autralian Rugby League Test team after fellow Queensland forward Petero Civoniceva failed a fitness examination.

Price will take Civoniceva's second row spot in the starting side against New Zealand at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Friday night. Civoniceva was ruled out with knee medial ligament damage this morning.

The selection provides more heartache for Ben Kennedy and Newcastle fans. Kennedy was controversially overlooked yesterday afternoon following his game against the Roosters at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

Given that Civoniceva's position was up for grabs, one would imagine that Kennedy would come back into calculations. But it wasn't to be, and the big Novacastrion.

"When I first heard I wasn't in the side, I just thought they didn't pick me and that was fair enough," Kennedy said last night. "But they heard I'd been ruled out. I asked our club doctor if he had ruled me out and he said he hadn't. He said the league must have done it".

Kennedy continued in uncertainty, saying "The guy who normally rubs me down, he told me to stay up all night and ice it and then go to the medical and I was a chance of passing. It's not that bad, just a small tear or strain."

As far as team selections go, it was a pretty controversial night, with five-eighth Trent Barrett missing selection amid injury concerns which later proved to be minor as well. However, no one can seriously deny Darren Lockyer's credentials. He will partner halfback Craig Gower, who got the nod over Brett Kimmorley despite the Cronulla stand-off's recent form resurgence. Interestingly, Nathan Hindmarsh was brought into the side at second row following some very impressive form for the Eels. It's Hindmarsh's first rep gig for 2 years and he wasn't included in the 25-man squad in similar fashion to Steven Price.

Either way the side is an incredibly strong one and should have little worry accounting for a New Zealand team in disarray. Captain and Raiders forward Ruben Wiki is staring down a 4-6 week suspension unless he beats a grade one reckless high tackle charge over an unsavory incident in his club's loss at the hands of the struggling Sharks on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, the Kiwis have been forced to replace fullback David Vaealiki who couldn't get through a medical check today. A painful rib cartilage injury sustained in Parramatta's come-from-behind win over Manly yesterday at Brookvale Oval has put an end to his Test match hopes.

Nigel Vagana will shift to fullback, a position he terrorised the Aussies in during last October's Test match. Panther Paul Whatuira comes off the bench to fill Vagana's centre position. Tavita Latu has been called up to the bench from his position in the train-on squad.

But there certainly appears to be plenty instability in the camp, with Stacey Jones and Karmichael Hunt opting against representative selection, meaning the Kiwis will really face the heat up in Newcastle this Friday night.

It's not all doom and gloom for the Kiwi's though with fellow forward Joe Galuvao cleared of any wrong-doing after going on report for a tackle he made during Penrith's loss to St George-Illawarra yesterday.

The full teams are: Australia: 1. Anthony Minichiello - Sydney Roosters 2. Timana Tahu - Newcastle 3. Matt Gidley - Newcastle 4. Brent Tate - Brisbane 5. Michael De Vere - Brisbane 6. Darren Lockyer ? - Brisbane 7. Craig Gower - Penrith 8. Shane Webcke - Brisbane 9. Danny Buderus - Newcastle 10. Joel Clinton - Penrith 11. Steven Price - Canterbury 12. Nathan Hindmarsh - Parramatta 13. Shaun Timmins - St George-Illawarra

Interchange: 14. Shaun Berrigan - Brisbane 15. Michael Crocker - Sydney Roosters 16. Trent Waterhouse - Penrith 17. Luke Bailey - St George Illawarra

New Zealand: 3. Nigel Vagana - Cronulla 2. Leslie Vainakolo - Bradford Bulls 16. Paul Whatuira - Penrith 4. Clinton Toopi - NZ Warriors 5. Francis Meli - NZ Warriors 6. Sione Faumuina - NZ Warriors 7. Thomas Leuluai - NZ Warriors 8. Jason Cayless - Sydney Roosters 9. Robbie Paul - Bradford Bulls 10. Nathan Cayless - Parramatta 11. Tony Puletua - Penrith 12. Joe Galuvao - Penrith 13. Ruben Wiki ? - Canberra

Interchange

14. Jerry Seuseu - NZ Warriors 15. Sonny-Bill Williams - Canterbury 20. Tavita Latu - NZ Warriors 17. Stephen Kearney - Melbourne

18. Frank Pritchard - Penrith (emergency)

To be invited into camp: 19. Epalahame Lauaki- NZ Warriors