As expected, Luke Lewis has been thrown Cronulla's captaincy reins for the Auckland Nines with Paul Gallen, Ben Barba and Michael Ennis overlooked for the squad.
Test and NSW back-rower Lewis - who missed the Four Nations due to a shoulder injury - will lead a squad that also features Sharks newcomers Kiwi international Gerard Beale and Junior Kangaroo Jack Bird.
However, Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan backed up his promise to rest regular captain Gallen along with prized recruits Ennis and Barba for next weekend's tournament.
Fellow star Andrew Fifita also did not feature in the Nines squad after this week withdrawing from the Indigenous team for February 13's All Stars clash due to injury.
Flanagan warned that his big names would not feature in the Nines earlier this month.
"Gal won't play in the Nines, it's a long season and we want him right for the start of the year," he told Sharks media.
"But Luke has earned the right to captain this team.
"He has led the way throughout the pre-season and the Nines captaincy recognises how well he has trained."
Flanagan has included last year's Nines standouts Sam Tagataese, Emerging Maroons squad member Valentine Holmes and Fa'amanu Brown plus ex-Dragons prodigy Bird.
It will mark the Cronulla debut for the 19-year-old Bird.
The Sharks - who progressed to the last four at the 2014 event - have been grouped with the Bulldogs, Roosters and Broncos.
They travel to Auckland on Thursday ahead of next weekend's tournament.
Sharks' Nines squad: Luke Lewis (capt) Valentine Holmes, Sosaia Feki, Gerard Beale, Ricky Leutele, Jack Bird, Nu Brown, Kyle Stanley, Sam Tagataese, Pat Politoni, Tinirau Arona, Luke Lewis, Matt Prior, Chris Heighington, Blake Ayshford, Nathan Gardner, Todd Murphy, Sami Sauiluma, Junior Roqica.
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