James Tedesco, Australian Kangaroos, Pacific Championships

James Tedesco is preparing to expect the unexpected when the Gallagher Australian Kangaroos face off against an unknown quantity in the Samoan spine hoping to lead the Pacific nation to an upset win.

Samoa coach Ben Gardiner has selected one-match rookies Sualauvi Faalogo at fullback and Gordon Chan Kum Tong at hooker, with Stephen Crichton – usually a strike centre – in the halves, in the absence of injured five-eighth Jarome Luai.

However, despite outgunning them in experience across the key positions, Tedesco wasn’t about to take their Rugby League World Cup final opponents lightly, given how much pride there was to play for. 

“Obviously, his strength is his running game, so that’s going to be a big part of his game,” Tedesco said of Crichton. “He’s got all the skills in the world and he’s a footy player, so he’s definitely going to create some opportunities that I’m sure.

“He’s just a footy player, so I think him having his hands on the ball more, it’s going to be a…