Queensland Reds hooker Matt Faessler will lead Australia A as coach Simon Cron names his side to face Japan XV on Saturday.
Faessler is one of nine Wallabies in the 23, which also sees Pete Samu return to the gold jersey for the first time since 2023.
Watch Australia A take on Japan XV on Saturday live and exclusively on Stan Sport.
Samu will deputise Faessler as vice captain alongside Ben Donaldson, who gets his chance to impress Wallabies selectors as he starts at flyhalf.
Fellow Wallaby Isaac Kailea and Brumby Rhys van Nek complete the front-row, with Josh Canham and Darcy Swain adding their Test experience as the lock pairing.
Brumbies duo Luke Reimer and Rory Scott are the two flankers, with Samu named at number eight.
Former U20s skipper Teddy Wilson starts at scrumhalf alongside Donaldson, with Hamish Stewart and Joey Walton reuniting in the midfield after starting together with Australia XV last year.
2024 Rugby Australia Rookie of the Year Tim Ryan has been named on the wing, with Ollie Sapsford and fullback Mac Grealy completing the starting side.
The bench includes four Reds players, including late addition Lachlan Anderson, who replaced Sid Harvey (hamstring).
Henry Robertson gets his first taste of Australia A, with Lington Ieli backing up his First Nations Pasifika appearance with inclusion as part of the front-row replacements.
“The squad has had a great week here in Osaka for what’s going to be a high-quality match against a well-prepared Japan XV side," Cron said.
“There’s a number of guys in the team who are earning international experience for the first time, while there’s others who have competed at the highest level over a number of seasons.
"They’re all equally excited to perform well in Australian colours on Saturday.”
1. Isaac Kailea – NSW Waratahs
2. Matt Faessler (c) – Queensland Reds
3. Rhys van Nek - ACT Brumbies
4. Darcy Swain – Western Force
5. Josh Canham - Queensland Reds
6. Rory Scott - ACT Brumbies
7. Luke Reimer - ACT Brumbies
8. Pete Samu (vc) – NSW Waratahs
9. Teddy Wilson – NSW Waratahs
10. Ben Donaldson (vc) – Western Force
11. Ollie Sapsford - ACT Brumbies
12. Hamish Stewart - Western Force
13. Joey Walton - NSW Waratahs
14. Tim Ryan – Queensland Reds
15. Mac Grealy – Western Force
Substitutes
16. Ethan Dobbins – NSW Waratahs
17. Lington Ieli – ACT Brumbies
18. Dan Botha – NSW Waratahs
19. Seru Uru – Queensland Reds
20. Joe Brial - Queensland Reds
21. Henry Robertson – Western Force
22. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips – Queensland Reds
23. Lachlan Anderson – Queensland Reds
