The ANZAC test is swiftly approaching and for me it signals an insight in to the thinking of the kiwi selectors.

We are at the beginning of the cycle in between World Cups. Last year's effort was a failure, we can only judge it on how they performed against the Kangaroos and they failed miserably.

But the kiwis are in a weird place. So many players with experience, yet these players aren't old or nearing the end of their careers.

Simon Mannering, Kieran Foran, Greg Eastwood, Thomas Leuluai, Manu Vatuvei, Frank Paul-Nuuasala etc have all been in the kiwis set up for a long time. Then you include guys like Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dean Whare, Elijah Taylor, Ben Matulino, Kevin Proctor, Jesse Bromwich and Sam Mckendry who have featured heavily in recent times. There is a core group of players who form the foundation of the kiwis team.

However, unlike in years gone by, there is depth thanks to a fantastic crop of youngsters coming through. This pack is headed by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and includes the likes of Peta Hiku, Martin Taupau, James Gavet, Jason Taumalolo, Kenny Bromwich, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and even Kurtis Rowe has pledged to the kiwis.

There have always been players coming through, but never has their been such the level of talent. Of course, we don't know who is going to play for the kiwis and who is going to represent Samoa or Tonga. But at least the likes of Watene-Zelezniak have said they want to play for the kiwis. We simply have no idea who is going to choose to rep their island nation and when they will make that decision.

It's interesting times because the selectors have an opportunity to pick a squad with the future in mind. They can do so without giving up hope of winning the ANZAC fixture as well because many of the young players are simply in form. Many media types would love it if the kiwis gave them ammo to continue their 'the ANZAC test match doesn't matter' shit, but the truth is that it's a great opportunity to see the best of our two nations go head to head.

I'm excited. I always am. But this year I'm eager to see how it unfolds. We'll rarely have the class of this Australian team but we have to just view them as the bench mark. Each year we get to measure ourselves against the best. This year there is a chance to see some of the next wave come in to a team with a strong core group. We haven't seen that in a long time. So I definitely won't be curbing my excitement.