LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Kiwis are set to kick off their Pacific Championships campaign on home turf in Auckland against Samoa.
This clash is anticipated to be intense, especially after Samoa's loss to the Kangaroos by 26 points.
The atmosphere at Eden Park is expected to be electric, with passionate Samoan fans showing their support.
The opening 15 minutes of the game, in particular, will be a spectacle as the battle up front promises to be worth the price of admission alone.
James Fisher-Harris, the new Kiwis skipper, and his Panthers teammate Moses Leota will go head to head with Junior Paulo, Stefano Utoikamanu, and Terrell May from Samoa.
These players have already demonstrated their prowess in the tournament opener, providing a significant impact off the bench.
Samoa will draw confidence from their performance in last year's World Cup, where they outperformed the Kiwis.
One player to watch out for is young fullback Sua Fa'alogo, who showcased his devastating skills against the Kangaroos and is expected to deliver more highlight reel moments in just his second Test match.
The last encounter between these two nations took place at the 2017 World Cup, with the Kiwis emerging victorious with a scoreline of 38-8 at Mt Smart Stadium.