The Kangaroos are understood to have confirmed an extended World Cup squad which will be trimmed after the grand final, with a host of surprise names included.
All World Cup nations - for the tournament which starts in Sydney on October 15 - have named extended squads, although there was no mandatory announcement.
Some teams have announced, like Fiji and New Zealand, while Australia have, at this stage, kept their 40-player selection pool close to their chest.
News Corp are reporting however that the squad named features both Reece Walsh and Dylan Lucas, who finished the regular season with injuries.
Both players are due to be fit in time for the World Cup, but not by much, and won't have played for months by the time the opening match of Australia's campaign against New Zealand rolls around.
Walsh's spot is anything but a guarantee, with the understanding Dylan Edwards and James Tedesco have also been named after missing the Ashes team at the end of 2025. Edwards toured with Australia.
Walsh is the incumbent at the back, having played all three games in that series.
The squad also features a host of potential debutants, with David Fifita and Fletcher Sharpe included, although Fifita may yet represent Tonga as he has done previously.
Fifita's form has been outstanding for the Rabbitohs throughout the course of 2026, and the second-rower will be in for a bumper pay rise at the end of his contract if he form continues.
It has also been revealed that Latrell Mitchell, who has returned from injury in recent weeks ahead of the finals, and injury-prone Tom Trbojevic, are also a chance of earning Test recalls.
It's understood most of the Ashes squad have been included, although Mark Nawaqanitawase and Angus Crichton weren't considered due to rugby union deals starting at the end of this year.
The ARLC had previously explored the idea of a two-week contract beyond November 1 for the Sydney Roosters duo, but the idea never proceeded.
