Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens to look to Broncos pairing Sam Thaiday and Justin Hodges against New Zealand Broncos stars Justin Hodges (left) and Sam Thaiday are set to lead the way for the Kangaroos against the Kiwis. SAM Thaiday and Justin Hodges are the package deal that Australian coach Tim Sheens wants to help the Kangaroos reclaim their status as world champions. The Broncos duo were yesterday recalled to the Australian team for Friday's Test against New Zealand in Canberra after they missed last year's clash with the Kiwis in Townsville due to injuries. Queensland's Origin force provided 10 of the 17 players in the Australian team, with all five captains of Queensland-based NRL clubs - Thaiday, Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Greg Bird and Nate Myles - named in the Kangaroos. It is the long-term understanding Hodges and Thaiday share as stubborn right-side defenders that Sheens wants to again embrace at Test level. Hodges must yet prove to Sheens he has overcome his hamstring strain and can train regularly with the team during the week to play, with incumbent centre Josh Morris on standby. I picked Sam out in the second row as well to play next to Hodgo. I think they form a good combination together," Sheens said. I know Brisbane have strength in the second row and use Sammy up front, and I can use Sammy up front if I need to during the game, but I will start with him in the second row. We're a bit concerned about Justin with a hamstring but I think he's had three games back now and doesn't look impeded by it at all. We haven't got a lot of preparation so he has got to do a little bit of work with the team. Wary of the threat of Kiwi hooker Issac Luke, Sheens is opting for a versatile forward pack with only North Queensland duo Scott and James Tamou designated front rowers. Thaiday, Myles and Cronulla's Paul Gallen can all expect time at prop as Sheens downplayed the injury crisis at the Kiwis, which yesterday cost them Sonny Bill Williams with a knee injury. The Kiwis still boast plenty of strength, including Brisbane duo Alex Glenn and Josh Hoffman. "I want to stay nice and tight and agile and mobile in the middle because of their dummy half running - they will really test us through the ruck - so we need to be strong," Sheens said. We always pay them the respect of preparing well and we will be doing the same this time. They're world champions and until we can claim we've taken that off them we're not. That is our aim this year and it starts with this match. Gold Coast's Jamal Idris and Ryan James and North Queensland's Tariq Sims were included in the NSW Country Origin team to play City in Coffs Harbour on Sunday. Brisbane's David Hala and Cowboy Jason Taumalolo were selected for Tonga to play Samoa on Saturday in Sydney.