After finally breaking their premiership drought South Sydney will end its Kangaroos exile with the Rabbitohs on the verge of having their most Australian representatives in 39 years.
While fullback Greg Inglis has been a mainstay in the Australian squad since joining South Sydney in 2011, he has largely flown the Rabbitohs' flag solo. South Sydney will have at least two players picked when the Test squad is announced on Tuesday with Inglis and centre Dylan Walker near certainties. Winger Alex Johnston is also on the verge of Test selection, and if he is picked it will be the first time since 1975 when three Souths' players - Paul Sait, Gary Stevens and John O'Neill - last played a Test together. Inglis and Dave Taylor played for Australia in 2012 while at the Rabbitohs.
Almost half the Australian squad is set to be made up of debutants for the Four-Nations tournament, including Walker and Johnston.
The wingers and back-up centres loom as the most contentious position with Johnston battling Daniel Tupou, Josh Mansour, Sione Mata'utia and Will Chambers for wing spots. Walker, Mata'utia, and Chambers can play centre too but are behind Jarryd Hayne and Michael Jennings in the Test pairing.
Chambers will need to pass a medical examination if he is to play because of an ongoing sternum injury. It is understood Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens will push for Mata'utia's inclusion when the selectors pick the team at 9am on Tuesday. He would become the youngest Kangaroos player of all time, and would make his Test debut after just seven NRL games.
The games hottest young prospects in Mata'utia and Johnston are certainties to play Test football at some stage, but one will not make the 24-man squad. Fellow outside back, Tupou has failed to recapture the form that saw him make his Origin debut earlier this year, with Mansour closing in on a Test call-up.
Coach Tim Sheens said he took plenty from the Prime Minister's XIII 34-16 win against PNG.
"It was a game we needed," Sheens said. "It introduced me to a few players I haven't had any involvement with.
"There's always pressure, whether you're seeded one or four in the tournament. These tournaments are harder to win even with your so-called best side and everyone available. We have a lot of work to do in a short period of time."
An impressive performance by Ben Hunt in the Prime Ministers XIII will see him picked as a back-up half to Daly Cherry-Evans and Cooper Cronk. An ankle injury to Cameron Smith could see him miss the Kangaroos opening game against New Zealand on October 25, with Hunt's ability to play hooker edging him ahead of Mitchell Pearce for a spot.
Aaron Woods will make his Test debut after scoring two-tries against PNG on Sunday. A dearth of front-row options will see Sam Thaiday shift up front to partner Woods. Other Test debutants set to be picked include Hunt, David Klemmerand Aidan Guerra, while Dylan Napa, Josh McGuire and Josh Jackson could squeeze into a bench spot.
A host of withdrawals, including Test mainstays such as Billy Slater, Paul Gallen, Johnathan Thurston and Darius Boyd, leaves only nine players from last year's World Cup winning team to play in this tournament. Fellow World Cup squad members Jennings and Robbie Farah will play, while Boyd Cordner is set to fend off a charge from veterans Beau Scott and Ryan Hoffman to retain his place before the team heads to Brisbane for camp on Friday.
Meanwhile, Manly prop Brenton Lawrence will have scans on a knee he injured in the Prime Minister's XIII 34-16 clash.
Likely Test squad: Greg Inglis, Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings, Daly Cherry-Evans, Cooper Cronk, Sam Thaiday, Cameron Smith, Aaron Woods, Aidan Guerra, Greg Bird, Robbie Farah, Corey Parker, Josh Papalii, Ben Hunt, Boyd Cordner, Dylan Walker, Daniel Tupou/Josh Mansour/ Will Chambers, Alex Johnston/Sione Mata'utia, David Klemmer/Dylan Napa/Josh McGuire, Beau Scott/Ryan Hoffman/Josh Jackson/Tony Williams.
