Kangaroo squad named

Craig Fitzgibbon was instantly recalled into an expanded Australian team for Saturday's return Tri-Nations rugby league test against New Zealand, while Brent Tate remains on the outer.

Fitzgibbon missed the 16-16 draw against New Zealand in Auckland last Saturday with an ongoing sternum and shoulder injury but coach Wayne Bennett has added the goalkicking second rower and Shaun Timmins to the same 17 players which drew with the Kiwis.

Bennett will cut two players from the 19-man squad later in the week for the match at Loftus Rd in west London.

Fitzgibbon was injured his sternum and shoulder six weeks ago and, while he played through the pain during the Roosters' finals campaign and grand final loss, he needed a break last week.

"I was stuck at the time. If I played the test last week I might not have lasted the distance on tour," he said.

"It needs time to heal but I didn't have time with the semis and grand final.

"But it's something that I've been playing with for a while, so I'll be right. It won't be a problem."

The injury should be given at least a month to heal properly but Fitzgibbon is happy to wait until after the Tri-Nations series.

"My enthusiasm level is still there. It was nice to have a little rest last week but I can't wait to pull on the green and gold again," Fitzgibbon said.

"Every time you play in the green and gold is an honour.

"No doubt it's hard after a long season and then straight into a test series. But if I was sitting at home, I'd be green with envy.

"The next time I play, I'll be playing for Australia, I'm not going to be thinking about how hard it is or how sore I am."

Although only in the 19-man squad at this stage, Fitzgibbon is certain to start the test and could push Ben Kennedy or Andrew Ryan out of the side.

"When I look at the squad, I look at the other backrowers who all performed well last week and all year, so to be held in that regard by Wayne and the selectors is a huge honour," Fitzgibbon said.

Tate, however, no longer seems to be favoured by his Brisbane coach Bennett.

Although he was rated the number one centre in Australia's test against New Zealand in April, his Broncos teammate Shaun Berrigan and Bulldogs tyro Willie Tonga were chosen ahead of him last week and have kept their places, while Timmins has also edged ahead of him.

Timmins was named as a standby last week after the St George-Illawarra utility was a late call-up to the squad following a neck injury to Roosters back rower Michael Crocker.

Australia: Anthony Minichiello; Luke Rooney, Shaun Berrigan, Willie Tonga, Matt Sing; Darren Lockyer (capt), Craig Gower; Tonie Carroll, Nathan Hindmarsh, Willie Mason, Jason Ryles, Danny Buderus, Shane Webcke; Craig Wing, Petero Civoniceva, Ben Kennedy, Andrew Ryan, Craig Fitzgibbon, Shaun Timmins. (two to be omitted).