The big one, or as I commonly refer to it - the biggun'. She's a a biggun' and any time the Kiwis play the Kangaroo is a biggun' let alone a final. There's a sense that the Kiwis have a very real opportunity to do something funky, some would say that they are the favourites given their form so far in the Four Nations. But the Kangaroos will have something to say about that, they always do and don't take the fact that they haven't quite flexed all their muscles as a sign of weakness - it's scary.

The Kangaroos haven't had the best week leading up to the final. A bit of a virus, a detour and the sort of travelling schedule that should give them an idea of what it's like for a New Zealand team like the Warriors. Are the stars aligning for the Kiwis? Or is it simply adversity for Australia to overcome? Beware of the low key Kangaroo.

Stephen Kearney had his biggest selection decision made for him when Thomas Leuluai was ruled out. Leuluai was awesome against England and it would have been an almighty battle between he and Lewis Brown for the 2nd dummy half spot. Brown now gets the nod which isn't a big deal as Brown can easily play the forward role/2nd dummy half that Kearney (and Tim Sheens) likes to do.

The Kiwis will need to genuinely believe that they are bigger, badder and "move over Lucifer, I'm more ruthlesser" as Biggie Smalls would say. I'm sure they do, but look at Samoa. I'm sure they thought the same but didn't resemble anything like it against the Kangaroos. The Kiwis have experienced it in week 1, now in crunch time, it's time for the forwards to put in the shift of their lives. There's no one in this back line who can win this game by themselves, not Shaun Johnson, not Kieran Foran, no one. However, the forwards can make it all an easy task.

I've said it all tournament - size, footwork, power, skillz and attitude. The perfect combination for a forward pack and the Kiwis will rely heavily on their forwards getting the advantage up the guts. This is the time for Jesse Bromwich to show that he's a top 3 prop in rugby league, he'll be joined by a crew who all offer something to trouble the Aussies. They'll man up heavily around the ruck on Jason Taumalolo to make sure he doesn't make big metres, but any effort to try limit a specific player opens options for the others. Taumalolo's key line has been hitting the space behind the ruck on an out-to-in angle, so keep an eye on him being used as a decoy to draw defenders in with a ball out the back to an Adam Blair or Greg Eastwood. They've got the footwork to get in between defenders and anytime a Kiwi forward isn't gang tackled, the opportunity for an off load is there.

Expect the Kiwis to hit the edges as much as they try go up the guts. There will be a bit more space out wide, especially if they vary their attack and the likes of Kevin Proctor and Simon Mannering have been uber solid so far. If they can link up well/execute their plays perfectly with Dean Whare, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Peta Hiku then they will be dangerous. There hasn't been a whole lot of chemistry out on the edges, especially when Hiku gets the ball but this is super important because the Kangaroos will be confident in their defence so the Kiwis will have to move the ball to shift the Roos around.

Johnson and Foran just need to do their jobs. The Kangaroos will put them under the pump to throw them off, but the more simple their roles are the better. How about the Kiwis try beat the Roos at their own game? Kick long, tackle hard and keep them coming off their try line. Then execute with near perfection on attack, not hard huh?

Big Manu, love ya work mate.

The Kiwis have a pack that has the right mix of size and mobility to try stop the Kangaroos rolling forward. Sheens has named David Klemmer on an extended bench, surely he's has to play. Otherwise the Roos will be looking to Boyd Cordner and Aiden Guerra to come off the bench in to the middle, while Corey Parker and Sam Thaiday can both move to play prop. That's a wee bit light and the Roos could struggle to go forward, however what they give up in size they make up for in the ability to get around the park.

The Kangaroos have a wide range of plays they can run and they tend to execute them perfectly. That's thanks to the likes of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Daly Cherry-Evans and Greg Inglis being in the team. The role of everyone else will be to get them in the right spots to let their key men take over and pick a part the Kiwis defence. Turning Manu around? Trying to lure Whare in field as he likes to do? Making Foran and Johnson try figure out who's getting the ball and who's gonna run at them? These are all options for the Kangaroos - expect the latter option to be the go to. They like plays where there are multiple guys who pose a genuine threat and getting Inglis 1 v 1 with Foran or Johnson will be interesting.

I like the Kiwis, they are a very real contender for the crown and if they're near their best they could embarrass the Aussies. Yeah, they could embarrass them. This week won't really impact the Kangaroos - they are the epitome of professionals, but it will be interesting to see if they come out with the energy needed to over power the Kiwis. It's been a long season, a long two seasons in fact which could mean a few tired lads.

There's so many match ups to watch, strategies to keep tabs on and little plays to admire that this game will be awesome. You're going to be watching two super duper rugby league teams go head to head. It's different to State of Origin or the NRL Grand Final, it's international rugby league with the Kiwis offering a slightly different flavour so make some guacamole, grab a box of brew and fire up the barbie, she'll be a biggun'.