Dunedin, Whangarei and Wellington have early opportunities to show they're ready for 2017 Rugby League World Cup fixtures when they host games in this year's Four Nations tournament.
New Zealand Rugby League will stage three games in the international showpiece, including the final at Westpac Stadium on November 15.
The Kiwis face a Pacific Island team - either Fiji or Samoa - at Whangarei's Toll Stadium on November 1 and England at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on November 8.
They will kick off their campaign against archrivals Australia in Brisbane on October 26, as a curtain-raiser to England taking on the Pacific champions.
"Bearing in mind we will be co-hosting the World Cup with Australia in four years, this is a great opportunity for us to show our capability," NZRL chief executive Phil Holden said. "But it's also a huge challenge, both on and off the field.
"On one front, we may be up against the other three semifinalists from last year's World Cup, with England, in particular, itching to avenge their semifinal loss to us at Wembley.
"And then we're looking for Wellingtonians to show their passion for rugby league and support what promises to be a memorable final.
"Auckland has already shown it's ready for major World Cup fixtures, after successfully hosting the NRL Nines. Wellington prides itself as a sporting Mecca and we're confident local fans can also support an international spectacle of this calibre."
Four Nations schedule
October 26: Australia v New Zealand, Brisbane; England v Fiji/Samoa, Brisbane
November 1: New Zealand v Fiji/Samoa, Whangarei
November 2: Australia v England, Melbourne
November 8: New Zealand v England, Dunedin
November 9: Australia v Fiji/Samoa, Wollongong
November 15: Final, Wellington
