Mixed feelings for Diskin over GB

Diskin and his Rhinos team-mate Danny Ward, who is also yet to feature in the series, were named in a 19-man squad.

But coach Brian Noble rested St Helens loose forward Paul Sculthorpe and Bradford second-rower Jamie Peacock.

Terry Newton and Ryan Bailey are both missing because of slight injuries but both are expected to be fit for next week's final.

Diskin is grateful in the knowledge that he is not just in the side out of sympathy.

The Rhinos' player of the year was only called into the GB squad on the morning they went into camp ahead of the Gillette Tri-Nations series.

That early joy turned to frustration as he failed to make Noble's line-up in any of the previous four games but on Saturday he gets the chance, with Noble insisting he's there on merit.

I said I wouldn't give shirts away but the players who come in deserve to be involved GB coach Brian Noble

Diskin told BBC Sport: "I'd take a shirt any way I could get it.

"But it's a better feeling when you know you've earned it. You've had to train hard and you've done everything to the best of your ability and you deserve it.

"There's a lot more credibility in that."

Diskin, who replaces the injured Terry Newton in the number nine shirt, admitted: "I'm enjoying my time here. I feel like I'm benefiting being involved with the coaching staff and the quality of players.

"But at the same time it's been very frustrating because I believe in my own eyes I should be playing and I could contribute to the cause."

Noble said that all the players coming into the side to face New Zealand have earned their places.

"It's a fourth tough Test match for us and some people haven't yet played," said Noble.

"I said I wouldn't give shirts away, but the players who come in deserve to be involved.

"There's a lot of disappointment around - Peacock and Sculthorpe both wanted to play.

"But the team that goes out at the weekend has every chance of playing themselves into the final."

Great Britain squad: P Wellens, B Carney, S Reardon, P Johnson, M Gleeson, K Senior, C Walker, D McGuire, S Long, I Harris, M Higham, M Diskin, A Farrell (capt), A Morley, S Fielden, D Ward, G Ellis, S Wild, S O'Loughlin.