Nathan Cleary and Daly Cherry-Evans are set to combine in the halves together for Australia after coach Mal Meninga opted to rest Cameron Munster for the Kangaroos' final round pool match of the World Cup against Italy on Sunday morning (AEDT).
Munster, who leads all players in the tournament with five try assists in the opening two games, has not been named as part of the Kangaroos' 19-man squad.
Instead, it is expected that Cleary and Cherry-Evans — who split the halfback duties in the opening two games — will combine together to face the Azzurri, with a win officially confirming the green and golds' place in the quarter-finals.
The tournament's leading try-scorer Josh Addo-Carr has also been rested by Meninga, along with hooker Harry Grant, while forwards Angus Crichton and Jake Trbojevic have been left out after featuring in the earlier two matches.
Cowboys trio Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai and Murray Taulagi all return to the squad, while Latrell Mitchell is also back after being rested last week.
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"I was very pleased with the performance against Scotland last week,” Meninga said.
“Defensively, we were outstanding, and I’m looking forward to seeing more cohesion with the ball.
“All players in the squad will have played at least two matches in the pool stages, which is extremely important ahead of the quarter-finals and hopefully beyond.”
Kangaroos squad to face Italy
Note: Players listed in alphabetical order.
12. Matt Burton, 6. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 13. Patrick Carrigan, 2. Daly Cherry-Evans, 14. Nathan Cleary, 15. Lindsay Collins, 16. Reuben Cotter, 18. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 19. Campbell Graham, 4. Valentine Holmes, 3. Ben Hunt, 21. Liam Martin, 8. Latrell Mitchell, 11. Cameron Murray (vc), 22. Jeremiah Nanai, 23. Murray Taulagi, 1. James Tedesco (capt.), 10. Jack Wighton, 24. Isaah Yeo (vc).
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