Aussie debutant Abbi Church starred in Sunday’s nail-biting 10-4 win over the Kiwi Ferns, as the Jillaroos sweat on the fitness of two key spine players ahead of next week’s Pacific Championship final.

There are no bigger shoes to fill than that of two-time Dally M winner Tamika Upton, who was ruled out of Sunday’s Eden Park clash with a calf injury.

But replacement fullback Abbi Church stood up in her first outing in the Green and Gold.

The Eels fullback churned out the metres, finishing with 161-metres on the back of her strong ball carries.

She even set-up the Jillaroos’ only first half-try to winger Jess Sergis without some smart work from dummy-half.

The NSW Blues no.1 was also up to the task in defence, when she saved what looked like a certain try to the Ferns with a brilliant cover tackle on the Jillaroos line.

Church, who was everywhere on both sides of the ball, capped off her impressive debut with a second-half try.

INJURY CLOUD

The Jillaroos were already facing Sunday’s final at Commbank Stadium against the Ferns without Upton, and suffered another huge injury blow at Eden Park.

Hooker Keeley Davis was helped from the field after just two minutes after picking up a shoulder injury. Initial reports suggest Keeley suffered a dislocated shoulder while attempting to make a tackle.

Upton was a late scratching for the Aussies after succumbing to a calf injury on Friday.

Jillaroos coach Jess Skinner said the star fullback is no guarantee to take the field next Sunday.

“It’s just a slight calf strain, so we want to rest her for the week,” Skinner said.

“We’ll reassess next week. It’s nothing too serious.

“We had the opportunity to debut Abbi Church, she was a great fullback in the State of Origin, she has been in the Jillaroos space over the last couple of years.”

Sarah Togatuki was also placed on report for a high tackle.

OUT OF SYNC

Despite the strike, and class, across the park, the Jillaroos’ attack lacked execution and polish – especially in the first half.

The Aussies struggled to make the most of a number of raids down the Kiwis edges despite having the lion’s share of play the balls in opposition half, going into the break only 6-nil up.

“The jillaroos aren’t looking too crisp today,” Fox League analyst Sam Bremner said.

“I don’t know whether it’s because they are missing Tamika Upton or I’m leaning to Keeley Davis going off in the first two minutes, she does a lot of work co-ordinating the troops in attack and defence and they are missing a little bit of her.”

It took some individual brilliance from Roosters star Jesse Sergis to break the deadlock late in the first half.

Jesse Sergis used her explosive strength to beat three Kiwi defenders to muscle her way over the tryline to put the Aussies on the board after an arm wrestle in the first half.

KIWIS SILVER LINING

Many expected the Ferns to be blown off the park after the Jillaroos disposed of Samoa in 60-nil thrashing last weekend.

But the Kiwis found a way to stay in touch with the Jillaroos until the final whistle.

Ferns backrower Annessa Biddle caught the Jillaroos defence napping after a moment of confusion at a break in play in the second half.

Biddle made the most of a retreating Jillaroos defence, running away for an 80-metre effort to open the Ferns’ account in the second half for what was their only try on Sunday.

The kicking game of halfback Raecene McGregor troubled the Jillaroos defence, especially her short kicking game in attack. But the Ferns were unable to convert the opportunities created on the back of her boot. The Ferns will need McGregor’s enterprising kicks again next week if they are to have any chance of breaking the Jillaroos defence in Sunday’s final at Commbank Stadium.

Powerhouse centre Mele Hufanga was mostly contained, and the Ferns will have to find a way to get the new Warriors recruit early ball in Sunday’s final.