Battle of the big men: Sparks set to fly as stars face off

Moses Leota is excited about the opportunity to reunite with his former Panthers teammate, James Fisher-Harris, as the Kiwi forwards gear up to face Payne Haas and a formidable Samoan pack.

The upcoming clash at Go Media Stadium on Sunday will showcase two star-studded forward packs, and the outcome will likely hinge on the performance of these frontlines.

Leota and Fisher-Harris lead a lineup that also includes Joe Tapine, Briton Nikora, and Isaiah Papali'i.

On the opposing side, Haas will spearhead a Samoan pack featuring Josh Papalii, Junior Paulo, and Jeremiah Nanai.

In total, the game will see more than two tonnes of rugby league strength collide in what promises to be a high-intensity matchup in Auckland.

A strong indicator of the quality of these forward packs is the notable players who will not make the 17-man roster for Sunday's match.

Scott Sorensen and Broncos standout Xavier Willison both find themselves on the sidelines for the Kiwis, while Ata Mariota is part of the extended Samoan squad, and Spencer Leniu is unavailable due to the impending birth of his child.