Latrell Mitchell is back in the green and gold after a four-year wait, with dual Indigenous and Māori All Star Dane Gagai swapping the Australian jumper for the Kiwis' strip as sides are confirmed for Rugby League World Cup openers.
Australia will run out for the tournament's opening games in both the men's and women's draws on Thursday and Friday night, with huge returns confirmed and potential debuts in the mix for First Nations stars.
At Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Thursday Mitchell will play his first game for the Kangaroos since the 2022 World Cup final.
The 29-year-old partners with Wiradjuri man and fellow NSW Blue Kotoni Staggs in Kevin Walter's side, named on Tuesday afternoon.
Reece Walsh will run out at fullback for Australia for his fourth consecutive Test after making a major statement against England during the Ashes and his first tour for the Kangaroos 12 months ago.
He's edged out James Tedesco for the no.1 jersey.
Reuben Cotter sits alongside Bradman Best and David Fifita, the two in line to make their Australian debuts against New Zealand, on the six-player interchange bench.
For the Jillaroos, who begin their World Cup defence against Samoa at CommBank Stadium on Friday night, back-to-back Dally M Medallist Tamika Upton has been named at fullback, with speedster Jaime Chapman returning for her first international fixture since 2023.
Upton missed Australia's 2022 World Cup triumph in the UK.
Trophy-lifter Shaylee Bent is named at second row in Barkindji and Ngapuhi-Ngāti Hine coach Jess Skinner's side for their opener, alongside Keilee Joseph and Olivia Kernick.
The Jillaroos have lost just two games in the last decade, and are chasing their fourth-straight World Cup conquest.
The Kangaroos are similarly eyeing four straight successes at the top international tournament.
Co-hosted with Aotearoa and Papua New Guniea.
The Kiwis shocked Australia in the 2008 final, and also hold a more recent 30-nil drubbing of the Kangaroos in the 2023 Pacific Championship final, a year after Samoa made a statement progressing to their first World Cup final, in the increasingly equalising international rugby league arena.
The once one, two, or earlier three-horse race is hotting up as the Pacific nation's stature grows and as more and more stars elect to represent their culture and heritage over Australian and New Zealand jerseys.
For the Kiwis, Dane Gagai is set to become their second-oldest debutant against Australia.
The 35-year-old made seven appearances for Australia between 2017 and 2018, including a world cup win in 2017.
"It was nine years ago now so it was a long time ago. Going up against all the other countries, you don't want to let your team down, you don't want to let your country down," Gagai said earlier this week.
"It's no different this time around. I'll be doing everything I can to get a spot on that team and do everything I can to bring back a World Cup for New Zealand."
Alongside representing Australia, Queensland, Maori All-Stars and Indigenous All-Stars, running out for Aotearoa is " the last thing for me to do", the veteran added.
Elsewhere, First Nations stars will feature for other nations at the World Cup.
Souths fullback Latrell Seigwalt is representing France, qualifying through his paternal grandfather.
Maroons flyer and capped Kangaroo Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has achieved his earlier-signalled intent to run out for Samoa, and Jason Saab will play for Lebanon after receiving special exemption to represent the Cedars and his step-father's heritage.
The Cook Islands and Fiji join the Kangaroos and Kiwis in the men's Pool A.
England, Samoa and Wales sit ahead of the Jillaroos in the women's Pool A.
