Kevin Walters backed starting centre Kotoni Staggs and described Latrell Mitchell as a potential game-changer for Australia against Samoa.
"I expect Kotoni to be really strong and great," the coach said on Saturday. "I've been really happy with him, with his progress, and I'm sure we'll see the best version of Kotoni Staggs tomorrow night."
"(Mitchell) is a match-winner, isn't he? He's got the big plays in him, very experienced player as well in the big game. I felt it was imperative that we put him at least on the bench. There may be a time in the game where we can get him in there, and he can do his stuff."
Mitchell will remain among the Kangaroos' six interchange players for Sunday night's World Cup semi-final, but James Tedesco has been dropped from the group.
Sam Walker replaces Tedesco, who was named in jersey No.19 on Tuesday alongside Mitchell, Ethan Strange, Keaon Koloamatangi, Cameron Murray and Reuben Cotter.
"We've got Latrell Mitchell on the bench, we've got Sam Walker on the bench, we've got Ethan Strange ... 'Teddy' drops out, yeah," Walters said on Saturday.
Walker offers cover if hooker Harry Grant or a half is injured; he could partner Cameron Munster in the halves, allowing Tom Dearden to move to dummy-half.
NRL commentators Greg Alexander and Jimmy Smith had questioned Tedesco's place on the bench, given Reece Walsh starts at fullback and Mitchell or Tom Trbojevic could cover that position.
"You don't need James Tedesco. He's a fullback and fullback only. But if Harry Grant gets injured in the first three minutes, you're under pressure for the rest of the game," Smith said on SEN radio on Friday.
Alexander said: "I would see no sense in not having (Blayke) Brailey on that six-man bench. The only cover for Harry Grant is Ethan Strange, but he doesn't play dummy-half."
If Walsh is injured, Trbojevic or Mitchell could move to fullback, with Mitchell also able to cover wing or centre.