New Zealand coach Steve Kearney is reportedly planning another selection shock by picking forward Tohu Harris at five-eighth against Australia in Friday’s rugby league Test.

It’s a move which, on paper, would pit Melbourne second-rower Harris against the skills of Kangaroos champion Jonathan Thurston in an Allianz Stadium Test which already shapes as a mismatch.

The New Zealand Herald reports Kearney doesn’t see any alternative with likely choices Kieran Foran, Thomas Leuluai and Josh Hoffman all unavailable through injury.

He is said to be reluctant to use Isaac John, who have been playing in reserve grade for Penrith and is likely to be the 18th man.

It seems a huge call on Harris, the one-Test player who bumped from last year’s World Cup Kiwis squad when Sonny Billiams belatedly made himself available.

But Kearney has not been short on big calls this week, axing Sydney Roosters stars Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Frank-Paul Nu’uausala and centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall while calling up six uncapped players and declaring he didn’t even consider rugby-bound superstar Williams.

The NZ Herald says the Kiwis feel the need for another big, strong defender against world champions Australia and Harris fits that bill.

Harris would not play as a conventional five-eighth.

Rather he would line up on one edge on defence and be used as another ball-player through the middle on attack, leaving halfback Shaun Johnson to lead the attack on both sides.

In another position up for grabs, due to injury to Issac Luke, Warriors utility Ben Henry is set to start at hooker, with Siliva Havili providing cover off the bench.