Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart says the Australian rugby league side needs to hit the ground running if it is to arrest a worrying trend of poor starts to recent end of season tours.

Australia has a disastrous record when it comes to the opening match of end of year trips, winning only two of nine openers since 1990 in series or events comprising three Tests or more.

Last year the Kangaroos never awoke from their slumber after being caught on the hop by New Zealand in the opening match of the Tri-Nations and eventually suffered an embarrassing 24-0 loss to the Kiwis in the final.

Stuart, who will be taking part in his first series as Australian coach after taking over from Wayne Bennett, said it was vital his side wasn't caught napping by the Kiwis at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday night.

"It is important if we can get off to a flyer in regards to winning the game in New Zealand," Stuart said.

"It would be a good win because it's on their territory and it's a different environment playing over there with the weather and the conditions.

"It always gives the side a bit of confidence when you can get away with a good win in the first (game) of the series."

Prop Mark O'Meley, who came off the bench in last year's final after being left out of the opener, said the Kangaroos never really recovered from losing the opening match last season.

"We lost that first game, it was bit disappointing, it probably put us a bit on the back foot for the start the Tri-Nations," O'Meley said.

"We realise that we need to get off to a win this first game and start the trend."

O'Meley is almost certain to be named somewhere in the 17 for Saturday night's clash, with Stuart to unveil his line-up on Tuesday morning after the squad flew out for Auckland on Monday.

Willie Mason and Petero Civoniceva are likely to be starting front rowers with O'Meley and Manly's Brent Kite to provide back-up off the bench.

The make-up of the rest of the forward pack is a little less clear cut, Parramatta second rower Nathan Hindmarsh the only player guaranteed a start in the back row.

Luke O'Donnell is also likely to hold onto his starting spot from the Anzac Test in May with international rookies Reni Maitua, Sam Thaiday, Anthony Tupou vying with Bulldogs veteran Andrew Ryan for the remaining berth in the run-on side and a bench spot.

Justin Hodges is set to join Mark Gasnier in the centres provided the Brisbane flyer can overcome a hamstring strain, with exciting youngster Greg Inglis joining Melbourne teammate Matt King on the wing.

King could yet be shuffled into his preferred position of centre if Hodges is ruled out, while there is still a chance Hodges could be named in the No.1 jumper after starring there for the Broncos throughout the finals series.

Stuart said he would consult skipper and five-eighth Darren Lockyer before making a decision on who out of Johnathan Thurston or Ben Hornby would play halfback, Queensland No.7 Thurston the front runner after several solid displays inside Lockyer during the Origin series.

O'Meley said none of the players had been given an indication of what Stuart's plans were for the opening match.

"It's hard to say what Sticky's going to do," the Bulldogs big man said.

"We've got so much young potential, we've had a different finals series that we've had normally this season, I think there could be a lot of surprise selections."

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