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I'm not sure how far down the Rugby Football League rollerdeck he was, but former deputy prime minister John Prescott was the man giving the England squad a pre-series psych-up chat.

Prescott, who famously let his fists do the talking when hit by an egg thrown by a protester in 2001, "was able to talk about leadership and the decisions you have to make when you go to war" according to England coach Steve McNamara.

Sounds like Prezza just rehashed his Chilcott Inquiry turn.

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The absence of captain Simon Mannering, winger Manu Vatuvei, enforcer Jared Wharea-Hargreaves and Jason Taumalolo will be keenly felt by New Zealand.

The tourists are also missing half-backs Kieran Foran and Shaun Johnson, meaning that the inexperience duo of Peta Hiku and Tuimoala Lolohea will be taking up those key positions.

New Zealand: 

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Jason Nightingale, Jordan Kahu, Dean Whare, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Peta Hiku, Tuimoala Lolohea, Jesse Bromwich, Issac Luke, Sam Moa, Kevin Proctor, Tohu Harris, Adam Blair

Interchange: Kodi Nikorima, Martin Taupau, Ben Matulino, Sio Siua Takeiaho

This was England earlier today, taking in a few sights, getting their mind on the job...

England named an unchanged 19-man squad from the 84-4 friendly win against France last Saturday, after Sam Tomkins was ruled out of the series.

Full-back Tomkins, who has spent two seasons at New Zealand Warriors, will take no part after aggravating a knee injury.

It means that 2015 Man of Steel Zak Hardaker has the full-back position to himself. Wigan's Sean O'Loughlin leads the team.

England: 

Zak Hardaker (Leeds Rhinos), Joe Burgess (Wigan Warriors), John Bateman (Wigan Warriors), Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos), Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos), Gareth Widdop (St George Illawarra Dragons), George Williams (Wigan Warriors), James Graham (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs), Josh Hodgson (Canberra Raiders), Chris Hill (Warrington Wolves), Elliott Whitehead (Catalans Dragons), Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors), Sean O’Loughlin, captain (Wigan Warriors)

Interchange: James Roby (St Helens) Thomas Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Mike Cooper (St George Illawarra Dragons) Brett Ferres (Huddersfield Giants)

New Zealand co-captain Isaac Luke has stuck his spoon in the big bubbling pot, marked 'Sam Burgess' future'.

Burgess is due to report back to union side Bath on Monday after England's underwhelming pool-stage exit at the Rugby World Cup, but is widely predicted to be returning to the 13-man code and NRL's South Sydney Rabbitohs.

"He'll be welcomed back," said Luke, who himself left Souths at the end of the 2015 season to join New Zealand Warriors. "He bleeds red and green, like I do as well. He's a loved man at South Sydney." 

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The teams out on the pitch, going through their warm-ups, Zak Hardaker taking a few high balls. There could be plenty of them coming his way.

BBC Two coverage starts shortly.

Sam Burgess said to be close to a quick-smart U-turn back to league after his dabble in union.

Sam Tomkins, injured for today, but back in the cherry and white of Wigan after a couple of years trying to source Uncle Joe's mint balls in New Zealand.

Today, we are asking which rugby league return would you have liked to see, but never happened.

Jason Robinson? Scott Gibbs?  Jarryd Hayne after he was dropped from the San Francisco 49ers last night?

Let us know via #bbcrl , externalon Twitter, the BBC Sport Facebook page, external or 81111 on text from UK mobiles

Get involved using #bbcrl, external on Twitter. You can also text on 81111 from UK mobiles.   

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

This match is live on BBC Two from 16:45 GMT and piping out of the BBC Radio 5 live sports extra towers of power from 17:00 GMT.

You can get across both on this very page. Just click on the live coverage tab and away you go.

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England's last two meetings with New Zealand have been hum-dinging matches culminating in gut-punch defeats by a couple of points.

In the 2013 World Cup semi-final, a heroic defensive effort - with Sam Burgess front and centre - was undone by Shaun Johnson's last-minute try.

A year later, in the Four Nations, New Zealand kept Steve McNamara's side at bay by the same slender margin to book their place in the competition's final in front of a home crowd in Dunedin.

This time around - with New Zealand missing captain Simon Mannering, winger Manu Vatuvei, enforcer Jared Wharea-Hargreaves and Jason Taumalolo - and home advantage on their side, England have an excellent chance of registering their first win over the Kiwis since 2011.

Two points in November 2013.

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  Two points in November 2014.

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  Third time lucky in November 2015?