Veteran five-eighth Benji Marshall has been named in the 19-man NZ Kiwis squad to take on Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium.
The 34-year-old hasn't worn the black jersey since 2012, but his form for the Wests Tigers has him back in the frame.
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Fellow halves veteran Kieran Foran has also been named in the squad. The pair were initially included in a 27-man group named on Thursday night, but have now moved a step closer to the prospect of a return to the test arena.
Foran will travel with new Bulldogs team-mate and 2018 Kiwis captain Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, along with Roosters players Joseph Manu, Issac Liu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Tokoroa-born Zane Tetevano, one of three players in line to make their Kiwi test debuts on Saturday night.
The other players in line to debut are Wellington-born Melbourne utility Jahrome Hughes (24) and Tauranga-born Cronulla second rower Briton Nikora (21), who made his NRL debut in the opening round this season.
Warriors halfback Kodi Nikorima, and Canberra's Jordan Rapana and Joseph Tapine have been ruled out by their clubs, while Warriors second rower Tohu Harris was also unavailable.
The 19-man squad to take on Tonga is:
Leeson Ah Mau (NZ Warriors), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Melbourne Storm), Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne Storm), Kenneath Bromwich (Melbourne Storm), James Fisher-Harris (Penrith Panthers), Kieran Foran (Canterbury Bulldogs), Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne Storm), Shaun Johnson (Cronulla Sharks), Isaac Liu (Sydney Roosters), Joseph Manu (Sydney Roosters), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Esan Marsters (Wests Tigers), Ken Maumalo (NZ Warriors), Briton Nikora (Cronulla Sharks), Brandon Smith (Melbourne Storm), Zane Tetevano (Sydney Roosters), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (NZ Warriors), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Canterbury Bulldogs)
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Join us at 5:40pm Saturday for live updates of the NZ Kiwis v Tonga rugby league test
