Points table, what points table?

New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney insists he’s not weighing up possible ladder permutations from the Four Nations tournament’s last two pool matches this weekend.

Although the Kiwis lead the competition with two wins, a loss to England in Dunedin on Saturday and an Australian victory over Samoa in Wollongong on Sunday create a three-way tie for the two spots in the final.

The finalists would then be determined by a points-difference countback.

Kearney said he had not studied the points table.

“I don’t look at it,” said Kearney on Wednesday.

“For us it’s about producing our best performance. We’re here to make the most of this tournament and we’re putting out our best team.

Kearney is more intent on ensuring his players lift after needing a late try to edge out Samoa 14-12 last Saturday, a performance well down on their opening round blitz of world champions Australia.

“We’ve looked at the areas we need to improve and that’s been the focus of our preparation,” he said.

“England is going to be a big challenge for us.

“They’ve got some very handy forwards in the Burgess brothers, James Graham and Sean O’Loughlin, who is a great player, so they will be very tough up front,” he said.

“I thought they were a little unlucky against Australia and that will show in their attitude. We know what we’re in for after their World Cup semi-final performance against us last year.”

At last year’s Rugby League World Cup only a late converted try enabled the Kiwis to eke out a 20-18 win to reach the final against the Kangaroos.

Kearney is looking forward to playing in Dunedin’s roofed Forsyth Barr Stadium after cold temperatures and rain this week.

“The South Island can get a bit wet and cold and the indoor stadium should lead to a great game of footy.”

He has no qualms about the appointment of Englishman Phil Bentham as referee.

“I think it’s great for international footy that Phil gets an appointment to referee a Test and I don’t think it will be an issue.”