Teenage prop Sam Burgess will be playing for the memory of his late father when he wins his first Great Britain cap in the first Test against New Zealand.

The 18-year-old Bradford forward will become the youngest Briton to make his Test debut since Andy Farrell in 1993 when he runs out against the Kiwis at Huddersfield on Saturday evening.

On Thursday he dedicated the surprise call-up to Mark Burgess, who lost his battle with motor neurone disease in May at the age of 45.

"He'd be so proud and it's a bit of a shame he's not here to see it but I'm sure he's watching somewhere," he said.

"He's always there in my mind, in every game, and I'll try and do a good job for him."

The selection of Burgess completes a remarkable, meteoric rise for the former Dewsbury Moor junior, who is one of four rugby-playing sons of the former Hunslet and Nottingham forward.

He did not make his first start for Bradford until February but missed only two games all year and was last month named Super League young player of the year.

"It's been a roller-coaster season," he said. "It probably hasn't sunk in yet. I never expected to get this far this season.

"I was looking down the sheet at the 25 players and thinking I'd do well to get a game. Sometimes I get a bit star-struck when I look around at training.

"When Tony (Smith) told me I was starting, I was really overjoyed and I just want to repay him by going well on Saturday night."

The 6ft 4in, 17st Burgess, who played loose forward for the majority of his junior career, puts his rapid progress down to a growth spurt.

"When I was 15 I couldn't get in the forwards because I was too small," he revealed.

"I had to play hooker.

"But in the last two years I've had real big growth spurt and I think that has been the key to my success.

"I kept growing taller and bigger and I think I've got a little bit more growth to come."

As the rookie of the British pack, Burgess is expected to be targetted by the Kiwis but he remains unfazed by the prospect.

"To be honest, I don't really care," he said. "If they do, fair enough, I'm ready for them. I can imagine they will but I've got good guys surrounding me which should make my job a bit easier."

Burgess clinched his Test spot with a man-of-the-match performance for the Northern Union against the All Golds in last Saturday's centenary international.

"We have a lot of confidence in Sam and I am sure he will have gained a lot of confidence out of his performance last week," said Smith.

"Age is not a concern. If he's good enough, he's old enough, that's the way it is for me.

"And he brings a freshness to us, with his youth and enthusiasm. I'm sure there are some experienced campaigners around who will make sure he's okay but I know that Sam can handle himself."

Captain Jamie Peacock moves into the second row to make way for the introduction of Burgess while Rob Burrow and Leon Pryce form a new half-back partnership.

St Helens' rampaging forward Maurie Fa'asavalu, who qualifies for Britain on residency, will also make his debut after being named on the bench for what will be only his second appearance since September 14.

"He's had a strain in his hamstring that probably hampered him in the back end of Saints' season but he's over that and he's been training the house down," said Smith.

Peacock will be part of an all-Leeds back row, while the St Helens trio of Fa'asavalu, James Roby and James Graham will occupy three of the four places on the bench, as they do for their club.

"The Saints boys are confident about coming off the bench," said Smith. "It is quite an art - it's not an easy thing to do - but all three of those boys do it particularly well for their club."

Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield has secured the loose forward role following his man-on-the-match display in the mid-season Test against France and will take on the goalkicking responsibility.

"He's a world-class goalkicker and when you go into big games you need world-class players in all situations and goalkicking is certainly one of them," added Smith.

Sean O'Loughlin, who missed the Northern Union game with a hand injury, was handed the last place on the bench ahead of his former Wigan team-mate Stephen Wild, of Huddersfield, and St Helens back rower Jon Wilkin.