Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens says he’s unlikely to make many surprise selections for this month’s one-off Test against New Zealand in Townsville.
Sheens will meet with the Australia selectors early on Tuesday morning before naming his team at Rugby League Central in Sydney at 11.30am (AEST).
Anthony Watmough, Kurt Gidley, Justin Hodges, Sam Thaiday, Matt Gillett and Luke Lewis are undergoing or recovering from off-season surgery and won’t be considered for the game.
Melbourne fullback Billy Slater is also battling a knee problem and could miss out, with Newcastle’s Darius Boyd and South Sydney’s Greg Inglis the likely candidates for the No.1 jersey should he be unavailable.
Sheens said Dally M Medallist Ben Barba is unlikely to win a bench spot despite a superb season for Canterbury.
However, the veteran coach hinted that Barba’s versatile teammate Josh Reynolds, who can play hooker, five-eighth or halfback may be in the mix.
“We’ll pick a 19-man squad after we find out how the players involved in the grand final pulled up,” Sheens told AAP on Monday.
“I’m not saying he (Barba) will or won’t be considered by the selectors, any player playing well will and Reynolds falls into that category.
“When it comes to a utility spot in the Australian side it’s about what positions Barba can cover.
“You need to cover your forwards and all the way to fullback.
“We’ve had someone like Lewis in the past who can play back-row, in the halves and on the wing and Gidley can cover the spine.
“So it’ll come down to picking someone who can play halves and hookers and the other utility would be someone who can play back-row and also at outside back.”
If selected, Reynolds could potentially be the only debutant in the 17-man squad, which may see recalls for Manly’s Tony Williams and Glenn Stewart.
Melbourne back-rower Ryan Hoffman could also return for the first time since 2009 following a stand-out season for the newly-crowned premiers.
Sheens said the short preparation time for the October 13 encounter at Dairy Farmers Stadium isn’t an ideal time to bring in new faces.
“It may happen naturally because of injuries, but normally you wouldn’t do that,” he said.
“You pick on form and incumbents.
“The selectors will go through State of Origin players first, although there have been a few occasions where players have made their Australia debuts before State of Origin.
“But you don’t tinker too much with Tests. The Kiwis want to take these one-off matches off us.
“It’s not easy to prepare with only a week before the game so you want to keep many of the faces you know for these types of games.”
Josh Morris is favourite to replace Hodges in the centres after a superb year for both the Bulldogs and NSW, that impressed Sheens.
“Morris is generally a left centre, but he played right centre for NSW and did very well,” he said.
“Brett Morris is doubtful for the right wing spot so (Akuila) Uate also comes into contention.”
