It's snow
joke for Aussies

Craig Wing is confident he will be fit to play for Australia in Saturday's Gillette Tri-Nations final against New Zealand.

The Sydney Rooster is making a speedy recovery from a sternum injury that he aggravated during the Kangaroos' 26-14 over Great Britain last weekend.

The utility player, who was called up to the squad to replace crocked captain Darren Lockyer, will be on the bench for the reigning champions at Elland Road.

Wing will play against the Kiwis with a specially-made guard to protect the problem, with coach Wayne Bennett also confirming that Craig Gower should be back after missing the match in Hull when he strained his calf in the warm-up.

"If Craig Wing is fit, he'll play and we're pretty confident," he said.

"Craig Gower is pretty close to 100 percent, so the issue is whether we bring Steven Price in."

Bennett's biggest concern ahead of the final at Elland Road appears to be weather, with forecasters predicting snow towards the end of the week.

The Brisbane Broncos coach remembers his club side being hit by a blizzard during the 2001 World Club Challenge at Bolton.

"We?ve got both eyes on the weather," he said. "We had won that World Club Challenge until the snow came.

"It?s something we?re mindful of. The conditions will be totally foreign to us if it gets as bad as they say it?s going to get. We?ve just got to hope the weather forecasters here are as bad as they are back home. We might be lucky.

"It would be difficult for New Zealand as well because they basically all play in the NRL as well.

"You can wear vests under your jerseys but, other than that, there?s not a real lot you can do.

?Craig Fitzgibbon?s toes were just about frozen off at Hull and he plays in the forwards and is pretty busy and active. It?s just an occupational hazard."

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Thanks to Spy Sports (UK) for this article.