Australia enters the 2026 Rugby League World Cup as defending champion after beating Samoa 30-10 in the 2022 final in England.
Head coach Kevin Walters is due to announce his squad on Monday, 5 October, but injuries and availability concerns threaten several selections.
Hudson Young and Xavier Coates are out with Achilles injuries, while captain Isaah Yeo is a major doubt with a fully ruptured right pectoral muscle that will eventually require surgery.
Penrith's Nathan Clearly has a broken leg and foot, and Dylan Edwards has a knee injury; both face lengthy recoveries after the preliminary-final loss to Newcastle.
Warriors prop Jackson Ford is also expected to miss selection with an ankle injury.
Mark Nawaqanitawase and Angus Crichton are heading to rugby, while Josh Addo-Carr is unlikely to be picked because of off-field issues.
Walters is awaiting Robert Toia's decision; the Maroons centre is also eligible for Tonga. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, who can represent Samoa, is expected to play for Australia.
The names listed for selection are James Tedesco, Selwyn Cobbo, Latrell Mitchell, Bradman Best, Jack Bostock, Cameron Munster, Sam Walker, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Harry Grant, Lindsay Collins, Liam Martin and Reuben Cotter.
They also include Cameron Murray, Blayke Brailey, Dylan Lucas, Pat Carrigan, Max Plath, Fletcher Sharpe, Mitch Barnett, Dylan Edwards or Reece Walsh, Tom Dearden, David Fifita, Jermain McEwen, and Ethan Strange or Dane Gagai.
Australia is in Group A and opens against New Zealand on Thursday, 15 October, at Sydney's Allianz Stadium, before facing Fiji in Brisbane and the Cook Islands in Townsville.