Australian coach Tim Sheens has handed the embarrassed Kangaroos one shot at revenge over world champions New Zealand but says spots are wide open for the end of year tour.

The new national coach made just five changes to the side beaten 34-20 by the Kiwis in last year's World Cup final for Friday's one-off Test match at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.

Sheens and the selectors refused to make "wholesale sackings" after the Kangaroos stumbled at the final hurdle last year even though they admitted there were other NRL players in better form.

Test regulars Justin Hodges, Kurt Gidley and Steve Price - who all missed the final last year through injury - have been recalled to the Australian side.

Gold Coast prop Luke Bailey and St George Illawarra youngster Darius Boyd are the two new additions - Bailey earning a recall after two years out of the representative arena.

Joel Monaghan, David Williams, Karmichael Hunt, Anthony Tupou and Craig Fitzgibbon have all lost their Test jumpers.

Boyd missed Sunday's NRL game with a thigh injury but is expected to be fit to create the first all-Queensland backline since 1924.

He has until Wednesday to prove his fitness. Monaghan will travel with the team until then while Penrith's Luke Lewis is the 18th man for the team.

"There's an element of loyalty there for sure," said Sheens.

"I'm a bit of a traditionalist from the point of view of taking over a side.

"I didn't see wholesale sackings, I don't think the selectors did either as the answer to it.

"They played very well, they were unlucky in many ways the one game they were going to lose had to be the final.

"Most of those guys have come through the State of Origin series and earned the right to get there.

"Some players have played a little better this year but from my point of view and the selectors agreed that there is City Country and State of Origin this year to make that side.

"There's an element of you have to play your way out as well as someone play their way in.

"It is as strong as I think the side can get."

Manly trio Brent Kite, Anthony Watmough and Glenn Stewart all retained their Test positions despite the Sea Eagles' woeful start to 2009.

"They are current NRL champions and current world champions. That just doesn't fall away, that form is there," said Sheens.

"I don't think they've played that bad to say they've caused the problem.

"I don't think one or two or three good games from another player necessarily sees those guys go out."

The Kiwis have made very few changes to their world champion side with Benji Marshall handed the captaincy after Nathan Cayless retired from international level.

Props Roy Asotasi and Jeff Lima, backrower Frank Pritchard and utility Sia Soliola have been added to the team while Cayless, Sam Rapira (chest injury) and Thomas Leuluai (playing in England) have been left out.

However the Kiwis have some injury concerns with lock Jeremy Smith likely to be ruled out and Pritchard also in doubt.

Marshall missed the Wests Tigers loss to the Bulldogs on Sunday with the flu and a deeply corked thigh but Sheens expects him to play on Friday.

However he insists the Kangaroos will not target the star halfback.

"I don't target people, that is a huge mistake. You ruin a game plan targeting people," said Sheens.

"Targeting someone is the worst thing you can do because all you do is ruin your whole game trying to do it and if it doesn't work you're in trouble."

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