An emotional Carl Webb has promised to deliver on Australian coach Ricky Stuart's call for "war" as the Kangaroos gear up for a potentially-explosive Centenary Test against New Zealand.

The North Queensland firebrand was the biggest surprise in the Australian team with Stuart set to unleash Webb's aggressiveness and intimidation on the Test football field for the first time on May 9.

Webb has filled the hard man role for Queensland in Origin battles since 2001 and after admitting to feeling "emotional" after hearing of his debut Test call-up, vowed to do the same for Stuart and the Kangaroos.

"I've had the experience at Origin level, obviously not at Test level, but if Ricky has selected me for a job, I'll do it to the best of my ability," said Webb.

"(Being named) was obviously a very proud moment and a little bit emotional - it's the highest honour you can have in the game.

"I always enjoy a contest, but definitely playing against the Kiwis, just watching it over the last few years has been exciting, so to be a part of it now and to be in the contest against the Kiwis, it is exciting."

Captain Darren Lockyer said Australia was capable of fighting fire with fire at the SCG next month.

"Whenever you play New Zealand it's always a physical contest," said Lockyer when asked the motive behind selecting enforcer Webb and Cronulla backrow duo Paul Gallen and Greg Bird.

"Guys like Petero (Civoniceva) have been there for a long time and done it well and then you've got the aggression coming off the bench with Carl Webb.

"You need to fight fire with fire.

"Carl's been about for a number of years without getting a Test jersey so I'm very pleased for him and I'm sure he'll do very well."

Lockyer, who cast aside concerns over his right knee after playing 80 minutes of football for the first time last weekend, said the make-up of Australia's pack left no doubt the Kangaroos could handle themselves no matter what the Kiwis tossed at them.

"Guys have obviously been rewarded for their performance last year in the Test match at the end of the season and some that have been there for a while and have been shown loyalty," said Lockyer.

Lockyer will feel right at home in an Australian backline dominated by Queenslanders.

St George Illawarra centre Mark Gasnier is the only non-Maroon in a backline which includes debutant Billy Slater who Lockyer said "has been on fire" this season.

"I remember going away on tours when there was four (Queenslanders) out of the 23 players," said Lockyer.

The eight Queenslanders in the starting side is two short of the all-time record of 10 which played the third Test against Great Britain in 1924.

Lockyer feared two weeks ago he might miss the Test because of the pain in his right knee.

"I was struggling with my knee and everything was put on hold, rep football included," said the 31-year-old who recently passed Graeme Langlands' 34 Tests and is second only to Mal Meninga (45 Tests).

"It's a big year for the game, a Centenary Test to the day at the SCG.

"I've never played there and we'll be wearing the old strip, so there's a lot of tradition about the game.

"I feel very privileged to be a part of it."

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