Six weeks since his last full match for Sheffield Eagles, front row forward Dale Laughton is still regarded as the pick of the props as coach Andy Goodway shuffles his pack in a bid to keep the series alive.

Out from the side beaten 22-16 at Huddersfield goes Darren Fleary, with the 6ft 2in Laughton promoted from the bench and Bradford's Australian-based front rower Harvey Howard standing by for his debut in case Adrian Morley fails to shake off a nagging ankle injury.

Iestyn Harris: Starts at stand off

Goodway also predictably starts with Iestyn Harris at stand-off after the nonsense of Huddersfield but it is on Laughton that Britain are pinning most hopes.

Kiwi boss Frank Endacott describes his captain Quentin Pongia as "the Rolls Royce of props" and maintains he "wouldn't swap my props for any in the world".

Goodway is of a similar mind when it comes to the one-time Barnsley coal-face worker who experienced a meteoric rise in fortunes in 1998.

"I can't think of any prop that would bend him backwards," said the national coach.

It was Laughton who clinched the Eagles' finest hour, powering over for the match-winning try that sank Salford in the Challenge Cup semi-final.

Andy Goodway: Full of praise for Laughton

"He's had a great season," said John Kear, Laughton's Sheffield boss who doubles up as assistant to Goodway.

"During the Challenge Cup run he was tremendous. His form dipped immediately after Wembley but he picked it up again and he's playing to his potential.

"He's quick and athletic, plays the ball quickly and carries it up very strongly and defensively he's great. He's world class."

Frank Endacott: 'Britain are desperate'

New Zealand, who are unchanged, will not lack confidence as they seek a victory that will earn them a first series triumph on British soil for 27 years.

After suffering an alarming number of handling errors and penalised 9-3 by referee Bill Harrigan, the Kiwis performed wonders to come up with the goods at the McAlpine Stadium and Endacott is demanding major improvements in their discipline, ball control and one-on-one defence.

But for two controversial refereeing decisions, Britain would have made a winning start and, with Harris in from the start to wield his magic, they should be capable of levelling the series and turning the third Test at Watford's Vicarage Road in a sell-out decider.

Teams:

Great Britain (probable): Radlinski (Wigan); Robinson (Wigan), Connolly (Wigan), Newlove (St Helens), Senior (Sheffield); Harris (Leeds), Smith (Wigan); Cowie (Wigan), Cunningham (St Helens), Laughton (Sheffield); Morley (Leeds), Joynt (St Helens); Farrell (Wigan, capt).
Substitutes: O'Connor (Wigan), Sculthorpe (St Helens), Haughton (Wigan), Gilmour (Wigan).

New Zealand: Barnett (Sydney City); Hoppe (Auckland), Wiki (Canberra), K Iro (St Helens), Halligan (Canterbury); R Paul (Bradford), Jones (Auckland); Pongia (Auckland), Eru (Auckland), Vagana (Auckland), Kearney (Auckland), McCracken (Parramatta), Swann (Auckland).
Substitutes: H Paul (Wigan), T Iro (Adelaide), Cayless (Parramatta), Puletua (Penrith).