Australia take on Lebanon in a blockbuster World Cup quarterfinal at John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield.
All eyes will be on the rematch between Grand Final halfbacks Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses.
MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs Lebanon teams, scores, videos, updates
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Cleary has won the battle with Daly Cherry-Evans for the halfback role, but is battling illness so Australia will carry the Manly captain on the bench as cover.
Coach Mal Meninga confirmed Ben Hunt has been rested, with Harry Grant to play 80 minutes to get his match fitness up.
Skipper James Tedesco and star five-eighth Cameron Munster are carrying niggling injuries and could be rested on the bench once the result is settled.
Isaah Yeo starts at lock with Cameron Murray switching to the bench and Liam Martin partners Angus Crichton in the second row.
Jake Trbojevic and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui will start at prop, while Valentine Holmes shifts to wing to allow Jack Wighton to play in the centres alongside Latrell Mitchell.
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Australia will be sweating on the fitness of a few players after Meninga confirmed a virus had struck the team in the build-up to the quarterfinal.
“We have a few guys who are a little bit crook at the moment with a virus and a bit of gastro… Most teams have had to endure that,” Meninga told Fox League’s preview show.
Lebanon will field star duo Moses and Adam Doueihi in their halves, while Bulldogs young gun Jacob Kiraz is at fullback.
Josh Mansour is fresh off a hat-trick on one wing, while Abbas Miski is on the other and both will be vital if Lebanon are to keep in touch with Australia.
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Lebaon coach Michael Cheika is looking for an upset win before turning his attention to Argentina’s clash with England in his rugby union role a day later at Twickenham.
It sets the scene for a mouth-watering clash with the winner to face the winner of New Zealand’s clash with Fiji in the semi-final.
TEAMS
Australia (alphabetical order): 9 Josh Addo-Carr, 13 Pat Carrigan, 2 Daly Cherry-Evans, 14 Nathan Cleary, 15 Lindsay Collins, 16 Reuben Cotter, 17 Angus Crichton, 18 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 19 Campbell Graham, 20 Harry Grant, 4 Valentine Holmes, 21 Liam Martin, 8 Latrell Mitchell, 7 Cameron Munster, 11 Cameron Murray (vc), 1 James Tedesco (c), 5 Jake Trbojevic, 10 Jack Wighton, 24. Isaah Yeo (vc).
Lebanon: 1 Jacob Kiraz, 2 Josh Mansour, 4 Brad Morkos, 16 Reece Robinson,
5 Abbas Miski, 6 Adam Doueihi, 7 Mitchell Moses, 13 James Roumanos,
15 Andrew Kazzi, 19 Khalil Rahme, 19 Elie El-Zakham, 12 Charbel Tasipale,
17 Jalal Bazzaz (Interchange: 14 Anthony Layoun, 8 Kayne Kalache, 20 Jaxson Rahme, 10 Hanna El-Nachar, 3 Balal Marbaani, 18 Khaled Rajab).
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