Decorated England hooker James Roby says he has no idea if the the New Zealand side he’s facing at Sports Authority Stadium is understrength because “I don’t really watch the NRL”.

Southern Hemisphere pundits are agonising over the absence of Shaun Johnson, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Gerard Beale, Jesse Bromwich, Addin Fonua-Blake, Adam Blair, Ben Matulino, Russell Packer, Simon Mannering and others on Saturday – but it means little to the 32-year-old St Helens rake.

“I know there’s guys there I’ve played against a lot in the past, especially Simon Mannering,” the 2007 Super League Man Of Steel told AAP in Denver, Colorado.

“Me personally, I don’t really watch it much to be honest.

“In the week leading up to the game, or if you’ve got a couple of weeks or whatever, you’ll watch a little bit of footage but it’s down to personal preference.

“Some players like to do a lot of research. Others don’t really.

“I watch a couple of clips, generally know what sort of player they are, what their strengths are, maybe bits and bobs you might be able to catch them out on.

“But apart from that, I like to turn up and play the game.”

Roby will have no trouble identifying his opposite number, however, with Issac Luke a similarly experienced campaigner who is also expected to lead the haka at the Denver Test.

Both teams had their first – and last – pre-match run at the 80,000-capacity home of the Denver Broncos on Friday, the Kiwis in first and leaving after a team photo before England’s captain’s run.

For Roby, there is a personal incentive to do well with Canberra’s Josh Hodgson expected to push him for selection against New Zealand at the end of the year. Hodgson returned from a knee injury a fortnight ago and wasn’t risked in Denver by coach Wayne Bennett.

“We played for England together before he went to Oz,” said Roby.

“We’re teammates, we get on well, but we are both vying for that starting spot. I was gutted for Josh, what happened last year (with the injury).

“I wasn’t aware he was back. That’s great for him, a quick turnaround. It was expected to be longer.”

About 15,000 seats are thought to have been sold for the first match in 64 years in the US between tier one countries. Australia beat New Zealand in two Tests in the Los Angeles area on the way home from the first World Cup in France.