WHEN Great Britain walk out at Ewood Park next Saturday they will want to be preaching to the converted as well as their potential new disciples.

When the Rugby Football League selected Blackburn Rovers' home for the first Test of the three-match series against the New Zealand tourists it was with one eye on expansion, but with the other firmly on keeping the existing flock happy.

The 13-a-side rugby code has not always enjoyed great success when it has attempted to move away from it's spiritual heartland along the M62 corridor.

By coming to Blackburn the devotees of the game can easily travel to the venue and enjoy some new surroundings and a great atmosphere, while hopefully the chance to watch a top class international clash in their own back yard should capture the imagination of the sporting public of East Lancashire.

But what everyone really needs is a Great Britain win - and the more convincing the better.

There is no doubting that on the international stage Great Britain are third class citizens at the moment.

The Australians rule the roost, the Kiwis keep biting at their ANZAC foes' heels and Great Britain, well on the evidence of our last foray into a Test in the southern hemisphere we just turn up to make up the numbers.

Defeat in Australia earlier this year was humiliating to say the least, but to those of you who are still sitting on the fence about heading for Ewood at the weekend don't let that put you off!

Great British rugby league as a whole is still smarting from the ignominy of that heavy defeat, plus we owe the Kiwis one for their victorious tour to these shores back in 1998.

There is no doubt that the current Kiwis will be tough nuts to crack.

Their squad almost to a man plays in the Australian NRL competition and the majority of their squad play for the New Zealand Warriors side who contested this year's Australian Grand Final being beaten by Sydney City Roosters.

Their quality is not in doubt and in skipper and half-back Stacey Jones they have one of the most influential play-makers on the planet.

But in their ranks Great Britain have a crowing Rooster of their own as second row forward Adrian Morley, the former Leeds Rhino star turn, was part of that victorious Sydney squad in the showpiece game down under.

The home camp too has it's stars but it will require stunning talents such as skipper Andrew Farrell, the mastermind Paul Sculthorpe and livewire hooker Keiron Cunningham to be at the top of their game if Great Britain are to take the series.

There is no doubt Great Britain need a shot in the arm and victory at Ewood would convince some of the doubters the side are back on the right track - and win them a few new friends into the bargain!