Canterbury props Aiden Tolman and Dave Klemmer are teammates on Sunday but the Bulldogs duo could be squaring off for a spot in Australia's Four Nations squad.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tolman and Klemmer are in consideration to make their representative debuts as the Australian squad undergoes a dramatic shake-up with a host of incumbents unavailable.
Coach Tim Sheens is keen to see how the pair line up against a big South Sydney pack featuring the Burgess brothers and Ben Te'o.
Tolman, 25, who has been on the verge of representative selection for two seasons, said he was not focused on securing a Test spot.
"If you're playing all right then those things happen," Tolman said. "I didn't get to play Origin this year so all those players are in front of me. If I was to get picked in the Australian team it would be great, I've lost count how many times I've been tossed up for rep teams but haven't made it.
"I don't think about it. It doesn't really bother me. Winning the grand final is No.1 on my list. Hopefully I get to do that on Sunday."
Paul Gallen, Nate Myles, Andrew Fifita, David Shillington, James Tamou and Trent Merrin are all unavailable while Matt Scott remains in doubt. Sam Thaiday is expected to push to the front row but Sheens is reluctant on moving Corey Parker away from the back row. Aaron Woods will almost certainly make his Test debut while Josh Papalii, Brenton Lawrence, Dylan Napa and Jacob Lillyman are under consideration to play in the middle of the field. Only Papalii has tasted Test football for Australia before.
Tolman will get to test his credentials when he goes head to head with a big South Sydney pack on Sunday.
"They are a good team and play off the back of a great forward pack," Tolman said. "We need to match them in the middle. The Burgess brothers get all the accolades, and that's well deserved, but they've got guys like Dave Tyrrell and those guys who go about their job and get a quick play-the-ball and they play off that. They've got some quality players and [the forwards all play a] bit different. We have to make sure we're turning up."
Tolman's Bulldogs teammate Josh Jackson is also in contention for a spot in the Australia squad while centre Josh Morris' knee injury is set to rule him out.
Morris' injury opens the door for South Sydney centre Dylan Walker to become a Test bolter alongside teammate Alex Johnston, with Morris' brother Brett also unavailable.
South Sydney's Greg Inglis will play fullback for the Kangaroos as Billy Slater is injured.
