Auckland - Tonga captain Finau Maka has overcome a troublesome ankle injury and will start against New Zealand in the opening game of the rugby World Cup on Friday.
"Fina did a fitness test this evening, prior to the training, and came through that well and trained with the boys tonight and he will be starting," Tonga's technical advisor John McKee told reporters at Eden Park on Thursday.
Maka's brother Isitolo, the head coach of Tonga, selected Fina on Wednesday to start at openside flanker before revealing he was not sure his sibling would be fit to play.