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Jason Taumalolo says there's no greater pride and sense of atmosphere than running out in front of a sea of red ahead of Tonga's international clash.

When Jason Taumalolo and his Mate Ma'a teammates run out in front of a packed Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland it will be 966 days since their historic 16-12 win over Australia.

Almost three years after downing the Kangaroos, international rugby league fixtures return across the Tasman in a blockbuster Saturday showdown between Tonga and New Zealand.

The co-skipper said it's a "surreal moment" to enter a sea of red in New Zealand and play in front of their fans after so long, and emotions will be running high when they enter the field.

"It gives me goosebumps thinking about it," Taumalolo said in the lead-up to the clash.

"It's a huge privilege for myself.

"It's one of the best atmospheres I've ever been a part of - apart from the grand final in 2015.

"It's an exciting week for not only myself, a lot of people back at home and a lot Tongans, so looking forward to it."

Taumalolo is one of five representatives from the famous 2019 side named with Siosiua Taukeiaho co-captaining, Kotoni Staggs at five-eighth, while Sione Katoa and Addin Fonua-Blake are also in the team.

It will be Taumalolo's 14th Test for his country and will be all the more easier with North Queensland assistant coach Dean Young at the helm.

Regular head coach Kristian Woolf is unavailable due to English Super League duties with St Helens, pushing Young into the caretaker role.

And Taumalolo says having some familiarity is a good omen.

"He's been in that position before."

"Woolfy's obviously had Youngy as an assistant so a lot of us, the senior group, were comfortable having Youngy there again as a head coach.

"He's been there and done that and he knows what we're like in camp and what we're about."