Toowoomba's Matt Faessler has been named to captain the Australia A side against Japan XV in Osaka on Saturday afternoon local time.
The hooker is one of nine Wallabies selected in the matchday 23, with loosehead prop Isaac Kailea selected to start alongside Faessler in the front row, as has Brumby Rhys van Nek who will start at tighthead prop.
Pete Samu will return to a gold jersey for the first time since 2023, named as vice-captain in the number eight jersey, with Brumbies duo Luke Reimer and Rory Scott completing the back row.
In what is an all-Wallaby second row combination, Josh Canham is selected to start alongside Western Force's Darcy Swain.
Former Junior Wallabies (now Australia U20s) captain Teddy Wilson will start at scrumhalf where he will line up alongside experienced Wallabies playmaker Ben Donaldson - who is also a vice-captain.
Hamish Stewart and Joey Walton will reignite their midfield combination, having played together in the Australia XV tour of the United Kingdom last year.
Force fullback Mac Grealy has earned a start for the match at Yodoko Sakura Stadium with Tim Ryan and Ollie Sapsford selected on the edges.
NSW Waratah Ethan Dobbins is named as the substitute hooker, with club teammate Dan Botha and 21-year-old Lington Ieli the replacement props.
Queensland duo Seru Uru and Joe Brial are the remaining forward cover.
2024 Western Force rising star winner Henry Robertson is the backup scrumhalf, earning his first Australia A appearance, with Gunnedah junior Harry McLaughlin-Philips named as the replacement playmaker. Lachlan Anderson rounds out the 23, having joined up with the squad after Sid Harvey was ruled out with a hamstring strain.
The match will be broadcast live on Stan Sport.
Australia A coach Simon Cron said: "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.
"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."
- Isaac Kailea - NSW Waratahs
- Matt Faessler (c) - Queensland Reds
- Rhys van Nek - ACT Brumbies
- Darcy Swain - Western Force
- Josh Canham - Queensland Reds
- Rory Scott - ACT Brumbies
- Luke Reimer - ACT Brumbies
- Pete Samu (vc) - NSW Waratahs
- Teddy Wilson - NSW Waratahs
- Ben Donaldson (vc) - Western Force
- Ollie Sapsford - ACT Brumbies
- Hamish Stewart - Western Force
- Joey Walton - NSW Waratahs
- Tim Ryan - Queensland Reds
- Mac Grealy - Western Force Substitutes
- Ethan Dobbins - NSW Waratahs
- Lington Ieli - ACT Brumbies
- Dan Botha - NSW Waratahs
- Seru Uru - Queensland Reds
- Joe Brial - Queensland Reds
- Henry Robertson - Western Force
- Harry McLaughlin-Phillips - Queensland Reds
- Lachlan Anderson - Queensland Reds
