Frank Pritchard faces fitness battle

New Zealand forward Frank Pritchard is an injury doubt ahead of Sunday's Rugby League World Cup final against Australia at Old Trafford.

The Kiwi second-rower sat out his team's last-minute victory over England at Wembley and coach Stephen Kearney revealed that he has given the player until Thursday to prove his fitness for the game with the Kangaroos.

Kearney also told reporters that winger Manu Vatuvei has resumed full training after shaking off a problem he picked up in the victory over Scotland in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Aussie coach Tim Sheens has his own injury problems with full-back Billy Slater struggling to be fit for Sunday, having sat out the semi-final rout of Fiji last weekend.