Australia hosts Samoa in Townsville in the opener of the inaugural Pacific Championships in Townsville.
It marks the heavyweight nations first clash since the Kangaroos won the World Cup final last November, with the game to kick-off at 8:10pm AEDT.
MATCH CENTRE: Australia v Samoa, teams, stats, video
The Kangaroos are without more than half the team that started in their World Cup final, with Nathan Cleary and Latrell Mitchell (injured), Valentine Holmes and Josh Addo-Carr (suspended), Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Angus Crichton (not selected) and Jack Wighton (retired) all out.
Sea Eagles veteran Daly Cherry-Evans starts for Cleary at halfback, while four debutants will replace Mitchell, Holmes, Addo-Carr and Wighton.
Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow comes into the centres – where he plays for Queensland – to pair Broncos star Kotoni Staggs.
Brisbane young gun Selwyn Cobbo and Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards make their debuts on the wings.
In the forwards, another Broncos star in superstar prop Payne Haas replaces Campbell-Gillard, while South skipper Cameron Murray starts this time instead of Crichton.
Rookie Samoa coach Ben Gardiner sprung a shock move at the selection table this week, naming Stephen Crichton as Jarome Luai’s replacement in the No. 6 jersey.
“Stephen, as people would know is just an elite player, it’s a new position and challenge for him that he wants to take on, he wants to do it for his country,” Gardiner said.
“I’ve told Stephen it’s not going to be to a ball playing half type position, it’s running half position, he has a bit of free rein to get the ball in his hands wherever he can throughout the game. Run the ball, that’s what I’m saying to him, do what you do normally.”
Brian To’o, Izack Tago and Spencer Leniu are the other Penrith premiers in his side, while former Blues prop Junior Paulo will again captain the side.
Murray Taulagi played for Australia at the World Cup but missed selection this year and will make his debut for Samoa.
Young gun hooker Justin Matamua has been promoted to the starting side with Gordon Chan shifting to the bench.
Kangaroos team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Dylan Edwards 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 4. Kotoni Staggs 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Cam Munster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Payne Haas 9. Ben Hunt 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Cameron Murray 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Harry Grant 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Patrick Carrigan 17 Reuben Cotter
Samoa team: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. Murray Taulagi 3. Izack Tago 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Brian To’o 6. Stephen Crichton 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 19. Justin Matamua Kum Tong 10. Junior Paulo 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Keenan Palasia 9. Gordon Chan 14. Spencer Leniu 15. Terrell May 16. Heilum Luki
17. Ronald Volkman 18. Royce Hunt 1 20. Greg Marzhew 21. Tommy Talau
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