Fringe Kangaroos won't have to wait long for their chance at the Rugby League World Cup with coach Tim Sheens foreshadowing sweeping changes for next week's clash with Fiji.
Sheens has revealed his intent to have used every member of his 24-man squad after two games, in a move that will require seven changes from the team playing England in the tournament opener.
It means rising forwards Boyd Cordner and Josh Papalii are set for debut international appearances against Fiji in St Helens next Saturday.
Daly Cherry-Evans, Michael Jennings and Josh Morris are among others who will play after missing selection for the tournament opener.
Sheens indicated the pool matches against Fiji and Ireland would effectively act as selection trials for the finals.
"Everyone will have played by game two and by game three most guys will have had two games," Sheens said on Friday.
"So we'll probably be able to sit down then and say 'these are the guys in form' and we'll see what the team looks like for game four, if there is a game four for us obviously."
The selection strategy is somewhat of a departure from Australia's last World Cup campaign in 2008, when then-coach Ricky Stuart vowed not to gift Test jumpers and refused to guarantee using his entire 24-man squad.
Stuart ultimately rotated his team throughout the group stage but he previously took the hard-line stance, denying Parramatta winger Jarryd Hayne a debut during the 2006 Tri Nations series.
Sheens is keen to give Australia's youngsters plenty of exposure at this year's tournament, noting they will need to step up in the coming years as an ageing squad undergoes rejuvenation.
The coach ideally wants his less experienced players to be putting serious pressure on the old guard throughout the current campaign.
"Hopefully by the time we get to the quarters and semis, that's when I'm really going to have a selection headache," Sheens said.
Share
