Australia's 24-22 comeback victory over New Zealand on Thursday night came at a cost, with Mitchell Moses suffering an apparent leg injury.
The Parramatta playmaker was ruled out of the World Cup, according to reports on Saturday afternoon.
Canberra Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange has now joined the Kangaroos' 23-man squad, the Raiders announced on social media.
Strange represented the NSW Blues in State of Origin this year and was one of three players named as World Cup shadows.
Coach Kevin Walters had said after the tournament opener that Strange could be called up if Moses was unavailable.
The versatile youngster can play centre or five-eighth and also featured in the back row for NSW, though the article said that role was not a good use of him during the Origin series.
Strange's selection begins Walters' plans for games against Fiji and the Cook Islands, followed by the finals.
Tom Dearden, Sam Walker and James Tedesco are expected to replace Moses, Cameron Munster and Reece Walsh next week.