Australia name four debutants in team to face New Zealand

Australia will give Test debuts to Josh Dugan, Will Chambers, Trent Merrin and Alex Johnston in Friday's rugby league international against New Zealand in Brisbane.

Coach Tim Sheens named wingers Dugan and Johnston and centre Chambers in the starting side, while prop Merrin is on the interchange bench for the Test against the Kiwis.

Fullback Billy Slater was selected subject to a medical, having missed three weeks for Melbourne Storm as he recovers from a shoulder injury.

Should Slater fail to prove his fitness on Tuesday, Sheens said Greg Inglis will move to full-back and Michael Jennings, who was named as cover, will come in to the centres.

"I spoke to him (Slater) and there will be a medical followed by a physical test out on the field," said Sheens. "He's pretty confident he will play, we will do a thorough test on him as we don't want to risk him.

"Billy was very close to playing this week and is the incumbent at full-back by a long way. He proved to me in 2013 in the World Cup that when he says he is right, he is right. If he's not, he'll put his hand up and won't risk the team."

Johnston's inclusion caps a huge rise to the top for the 20-year-old winger, who won a National Rugby League title with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in his rookie season last year.

New Zealand quartet return

Meanwhile, four players have forced their way back into contention for New Zealand after missing last year's Four Nations Series triumph.

Outside backs Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and prop forwards Ben Matulino and Sam Moa are named in coach Stephen Kearney's 18-strong squad.

Penrith Panthers' teenage sensation Watene-Zelezniak was set to make his debut on the wing in the Four Nations opener but broke a bone in his foot during the team's build-up for that game.

"All of these players have been in good form so far this season and really put their hands up for inclusion in this Anzac Test side," said Kearney. "It's a sign that we are developing some great young talent and good depth in certain positions."

Four Nations mainstays Dean Whare and Jason Taumalolo have been ruled out through injury while former Wigan hooker or half-back Thomas Leuluai is back in the reckoning after being dropped for the Four Nations Series final.

Australia: 1 Billy Slater, 2 Alex Johnston, 3 Greg Inglis, 4 Will Chambers, 5 Josh Dugan, 6 Jonathan Thurston, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Matt Scott, 9 Cameron Smith (c),10  Aaron Woods, 11 Greg Bird, 12 Sam Thaiday, 13 Corey Parker.

Interchange: 14 Luke Lewis, 15 Trent Merrin, 16 Nate Myles, 17 James Tamou.

New Zealand squad: Jesse Bromwich, Lewis Brown, Greg Eastwood, Kieran Foran, Tohu Harris, Peta Hiku, Shaun Johnson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Thomas Leuluai, Issac Luke, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Sam Moa, Kevin Proctor, Matin Taupau, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Manu Vatuvei, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak