Nicho Hynes and Tom Flegler will make Kangaroos debuts against the Kiwis on Saturday night after coach Mal Meninga decided to rest four players.
Hynes will come off the bench in the No. 17 jersey, which the Cronulla halfback also wore in his ill-fated debut for NSW in the Origin opener this year.
The 27-year-old played just 12 minutes missed a tackle that led to the game-winning try and was dropped for the rest of the series.
But Meninga is adamant he has a better plan for his utility than former Blues coach Brad Fittler.
Watch every match of Pacific Championships LIVE on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >
Payne Haas, Liam Martin, Selwyn Cobbo and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui all played for Australia in their Pacific Championships opener. But they’ll sit out this week with the Kangaroos already guaranteed to meet the Kiwis again next week in the final of the tournament.
Val Holmes returns and replaces Cobbo as Reuben Cotter comes into the starting side for second-rower Martin.
Flegler and Jake Trbojevic will fill the front-row void left by Haas and Fa’asuamaleaui, while Dylan Edwards has overcome a shoulder injury.
New Zealand have added Danny Levi, Keano Kini and Wiremu Greig to the squad that thrashed Samoa last week.
Read on for all the Test teams playing this weekend.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 28
Australia v New Zealand at AAMI Park, Melbourne, 8:10pm (AEDT)
MEN
Australia: 1. James Tedesco 2. Dylan Edwards 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 4. Kotoni Staggs 5. Valentine Holmes 6. Cameron Munster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Jake Trbojevic 9. Ben Hunt 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Cameron Murray 12. Reuben Cotter 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Harry Grant 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Patrick Carrigan 17. Nicho Hynes 18. Liam Martin 19. Selwyn Cobbo 20. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 21. Payne Haas
New Zealand: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Ronaldo Mulitalo 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Joseph Manu 5. Jamayne Isaako 6. Dylan Brown 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Kieran Foran 10. Moses Leota 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Briton Nikora 13. Joseph Tapine 14. Fa’amanu Brown 15. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 16. Griffin Neame 17. Leo Thompson 18. Naufahu Whyte 19. Danny Levi 20. Wiremu Greig 21. Keano Kini
England edges past Tonga in tight finish | 00:54
Australia v New Zealand at AAMI Park, Melbourne, 6pm AEDST
WOMEN
Australia: 1. Tamika Upton 2. Jaime Chapman 3. Jessica Sergis 4. Isabelle Kelly 5. Jakiya Whitfeld 6. Tarryn Aiken 7. Ali Brigginshaw 8. Shannon Mato 9. Lauren Brown 10. Jessika Elliston 11. Kezie Apps 12. Olivia Kernick 13. Simaima Taufa 14. Emma Tonegato 15. Yasmin Clydsdale 16. Kennedy Cherrington 17. Emma Manzelmann 18. Shaylee Bent 19. Shenae Ciesiolka 20. Teagan Berry 21. Keeley Davis
New Zealand: 1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Abigail Roache 5. Shanice Parker 6. Tyla Nathan-Wong 7. Raecene Mcgregor 8. Mya Hill-Moana 9. Brooke Anderson 10. Angelina Teakaraanga Katoa 11. Annessa Biddle 12. Otesa Pule 13. Georgia Hale 14. Ash Quinlan 15. Najvada George 16. Jasmine Fogavini 17. Tiana Davison 18. Laishon Albert-Jones 19. Cheyelle Robins-Reti 20. Capri Paekau
SUNDAY OCTOBER 29
Papua New Guinea Kumuls v Fiji Bati at Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, 4pm (AEDT)
PNG: 1. Alex Johnston 2. Robert Derby 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Benji Kott 5. Nene Macdonald 6. Kyle Laybutt 7. Lachlan Lam 8. Epel Kapinias 9. Edwin Ipape 10. Valentine Richard 11. Rhyse Martin 12. Dan Russell 13. Jack de Belin 14. Judah Rimbu 15. Wellington Albert 16. Keven Appo 17. Jacob Alick 18. Liam Horne 19. Nixon Putt 20. Junior Rop 21. Mckenzie Yei
Fiji: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Maika Sivo 3. Sunia Turuva 4. Waqa Blake 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kurt Donoghoe 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Penioni Tagituimua 10. King Vuniyayawa 11. Kitione Kautoga 12. Apisalome Saukuru 13. Taane Milne 14. Noah Nailagoliva 15. Caleb Navale 16. Gordon Whippy 17. Watasoni Waqanisaravi 18. Jason Qareqare 19. Mesake Ravonu 20. Sirilo Lovokuro 21. Pio Seci
