Bulldogs captain Steve Price hasn't played in the second row for at least four years - but he's looking forward to reliving the past after being called into the Australian rugby league side as a replacement for Petero Civoniceva.

Civoniceva was ruled out of Friday night's clash with New Zealand with a knee injury - picked up during Brisbane's win over North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday night - and national selectors wasted little time in calling Price up for his first Test since 1999.

The 30-year-old was at the Bulldogs' Belmore base when he received the news.

"One of the girls knocked on the door and said I had an urgent call from my wife," Price said.

"I thought one of the kids had fallen from the roof. They said apparently it was good news. She (my wife) said she got a call from (ARL chief executive) Geoff Carr and he said I was in.

"It wasn't something I was expecting. I thought Petero was going to be fit."

The likable Price has played three Tests - his last against the Kiwis in 1999.

Back then he was equally at home in the second row and coach Wayne Bennett confirmed the Queenslander would slot straight in alongside Nathan Hindmarsh on Friday night.

"You can play front row or second row, the role is pretty similar," Bennett said.

Price agreed.

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