Dane Gagai is set to become New Zealand's second-oldest Test debutant when the Kiwis meet Australia in their Rugby League World Cup opener on Thursday.
He will be 35 years and 286 days old at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, nine years after making his first of seven Kangaroos appearances in the 2017 World Cup opener in Melbourne.
Kalyn Ponga will also make his Kiwis debut, playing fullback and fulfilling his ambition to represent New Zealand after three appearances for the Māori All Stars.
Alf Chorley remains the oldest Kiwis debutant, aged 36 years and 46 days against Great Britain in 1910.
Jim Fisher was 30 years and 75 days old when he played his first Test against Great Britain in Salford in 1971; he died last month aged 85.
Gagai, whose mother has Māori heritage, was cleared to change eligibility on the eve of Newcastle's October 4 NRL grand final against the Sydney Roosters.
He has played three times for the Māori All Stars and three times for the Indigenous All Stars through his father's heritage.
Four NZ Warriors players are in the Kiwis squad: co-captain James Fisher-Harris, Te Maire Martin, Erin Clark and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
Dally M NRL captain of the year Fisher-Harris will lead New Zealand for a 10th consecutive international, having taken over the captaincy for the 2023 Pacific Championships.
He also captained the Kiwis against Jamaica at the 2022 World Cup in England.
Martin returns as an interchange utility after New Zealand's successful Pacific Championships campaign last year.
Clark is named off the interchange for his fifth Test, having debuted against Papua New Guinea in 2024.
Nicoll-Klokstad is on the six-man bench after playing centre in last year's Pacific Championships final win over Toa Samoa.