The 21-year-old will not want for motivation when he takes to the pitch at Suncorp Stadium where Australia will start as odds-on favourites to extend their domination of the tournament.

Australia have held the World Cup since 1975 and though few people give New Zealand a chance, Eastwood is quietly confident he and his team-mates have the gameplan needed to win through.

"Australia have been solid in defence and attack throughout the tournament and I can't imagine that changing so we just have to stick in there for the full 80 minutes and see what happens," said Eastwood, who will join the Super League champions on a three-year contract next month.

"It's important that we sort out our defence, we were pretty ordinary against them in the pool game. We need to build pressure and if we can get good ball we have to put points on the board.

"I didn't have a good game last week but hopefully I can pick that up to where I've been throughout the World Cup.

"I've given my word to the boys that I'll be there all game, they don't have to worry about me missing any tackles or not being there for them."

The Brisbane Broncos forward's defensive prowess was illustrated during the Kiwis' victory over England in Newcastle where he flattened Ben Westwood with a ferocious crash tackle.

New Zealand will need more of the same tomorrow when they aim to continue a remarkable international comeback since their 3-0 Test series defeat by Great Britain last autumn.

The turnaround has come despite the absence of the injured Roy Asotasi and Brent Webb and the defection to rugby union of Sonny Bill Williams, all of whom were expected to be key players in the World Cup.

"There were a few doubts with Sonny Bill leaving and all that, but once you get into camp with the boys you get confidence you can do anything you want to, we've made the finals without them so that's an achievement in itself," said Eastwood.

"Hopefully we can build on that confidence, it would definitely make it sweeter if we win."

Eastwood is looking forward to moving to Yorkshire where he is unlikely to have much problem settling in – his father hails from Huddersfield and he has an extended family in the town.

The Australia-born forward – he qualified for New Zealand through his Kiwi mother – has already met some of his future team-mates socially and knows Leeds's coach Brian McClennan from their time together with the New Zealand team

"I had a chat to Rob Burrow, Kevin Sinfield and Jamie Jones Buchanan when they came to see me at the team hotel," said Eastwood, who has been signed by the Rhinos as a direct replacement for Wests Tigers-bound back row Gareth Ellis.

"Gareth is a very good player, he's just been named international second rower of the year and I know there are some big shoes to fill but hopefully I can do the job that he used to do over there."

When asked why he was prepared to turn his back on a successful career with Brisbane Broncos to move to England, Eastwood is refreshingly honest.

"It was probably the money," he said. "I love my family and, if I can support them when I get back, it will be a real bonus for me.

"It will also be a bonus for me if I can help Leeds beat Manly in February. What a double that would be – World Club Challenge winner and World Cup winner."

Australia made one change to their final line-up yesterday when Manly winger David Williams was drafted in as a late replacement for Brent Tate, who was forced to withdraw with a hip injury.

Australia: B Slater (Melbourne); J Monaghan (Canberra), G Inglis (Melbourne), I Folau (Melbourne), D Williams (Manly); D Lockyer (Brisbane, capt), J Thurston (North Queensland); P Civoniceva (Penrith), C Smith (Melbourne), S Price (NZ Warriors), G Stewart (Manly), A Laffranchi (Gold Coast), P Gallen (Cronulla). Substitutes: K Hunt (Brisbane), C Fitzgibbon (Sydney Roosters), A Tupou (Sydney Roosters), B Kite (Manly).

New Zealand: L Hohaia (NZ Warriors); S Perrett (Sydney Roosters), S Mannering, J Ropati, M Vatuvei (all NZ Warriors); B Marshall (Wests Tigers), N Fien (NZ Warriors); N Cayless (Parramatta, capt), T Leuluai (Wigan), Adam B (Melbourne), D Fa'alogo (South Sydney), B Harrison (South Sydney), J Smith (Melbourne). Substitutes: I Luke (South Sydney), G Eastwood (Brisbane), S Rapira (NZ Warriors), S Manu (Melbourne).

Referee: A Klein (England).