Pacific Championships Team Lists: Week 1

Kangaroos: A new-look halves pairing for Mal Meninga with Tom Dearden and Mitch Moses both making their Test debuts, along with wingers Xavier Coates and Zac Lomax and bench forwards Mitch Barnett and Hudson Young. Sea Eagles superstar Tom Trbojevic plays his first Test match since 2018, forming a lethal centre combination with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. At the back, Panthers star Dylan Edwards takes over in the No.1 jersey, while up front it's Issah Yeo assuming the captaincy and leading an experienced pack that includes Wally Lewis Medal winner Angus Crichton and his Roosters teammate Lindsay Collins.

Tonga XIII: Panthers grand final hero Paul Alamoti has been handed his Test debut while Manly fullback Lehi Hopoate also plays his first Test match. Huddersfield's Tui Lolohea is the only member of the squad returning from the Super League and teams up in the halves with Dolphins young gun Isaiya Katoa. Veterans Addin Fonua-Blake and Felise Kaufusi are the starting props with Jason Taumalolo, Haumole Olakau'atu and Eli Katoa making up an all star back row. The bench also boasts plenty of power with Keaon Koloamatangi, Taniela Paseka and Sitili Tupouniua joined by Panthers dynamo Soni Luke, who played four Tests at the 2022 World Cup.

Jillaroos v PNG Orchids, Friday 6.05pm (AEDT) at Suncorp Stadium 

Jillaroos: Ali Brigginshaw and Kezie Apps will lead a Jillaroos side boasting three debutantes in starting hooker Quincy Dodd and her back-up Olivia Higgins, as well as bench forward Sarah Togatuki. Nine members of the side that lost last year's Pac Champs final to New Zealand are back on deck, including fullback Tamika Upton and chief playmaker Tarryn Aiken, who shifts from five-eighth to halfback. Lauren Brown is listed among the reserves after suffering a hamstring injury playing for the PM's XIII on Sunday. 

Orchids: After sitting out the PM's XIII match to be kept fresh for the Pac Champs, PNG legend Elsie Albert will captain her country against Australia. Cowboys duo Essay Banu and Sareka Mooka bring plenty of class to the forward pack while experienced centre Belinda Gwasamun has been playing with Wentworthville Magpies and was named joint winner of the Tahnee Norris Medal at the NRL's Harvey Norman Women's National Championships. Hooker Ua Ravu represented the Orchids at the World Cup in 2022 and has racked up four Tests for the Orchids. Jessikah Reeves and Sera Koroi both have NRLW experience with the Cowboys.

Tonga XIII v Fetu Samoa, Saturday 5.00pm (AEDT) at HFC Bank Stadium, Suva

Tonga: Emmanita Paki makes her international debut at five-eighth alongside Eels playmaker Cassey Tohi-Hiku, who moves from her regular No.6 jersey into the halfback role. Exciting young fullback Ana Malupo and centre Kate Fallon also makes their Test debuts. Vastly experienced forward Vanessa Foliaki will co-captain the Tonga side along with Natasha Penitani, who lines up for her third Test match. After squaring off in the NRLW grand final a fortnight ago, Rooster Pani Hopoate and Sharks Tegan Dymock, ManilitaTakapautolo, Filomina Hanisi and Foliaki are all now teammates for Tonga

Fetu Samoa: Former Jillaroo Evania Pelite is joined by fellow Titans Sienna Lofipo, Sarina Masaga and Laikha Clarke in a strong Fetu Samoa outfit looking to build on an impressive win over Fiji in last year's Pac Champs. Centre Lindsay Tui bagged a double in that game while skipper Annetta-Claudia Nuuausala was also among the tries. Wests Tigers back-rower Christian Pio earns a Test debut on the back of a strong season in which she averaged 108 metres per game. Young flyer Mercedez Taulelei-Siala played centre for Queensland Under-19s against NSW this year and gets her first Test cap on the wing.

Fiji Bati v PNG Kumuls, Saturday 7.10pm (AEDT) at HFC Bank Stadium, Suva

Fiji Bati: Storm big man Tui Kamikamica will captain a vastly experienced Bati outfit that includes former skipper Kevin Naiqama, who lines up for his 25th Test match, as well as blockbusting winger Maika Sivo in his 11th Test for Fiji and Viliame Kikau in his 17th Test. Panthers premiership winner Sunia Turuva is the fullback while Dolphins playmaker Kurt Donoghoe wears the No.7. Emerging NRL forwards Caleb Navale (Sea Eagles) and Kitione Kautoga (Bulldogs) are back in the pack after featuring in last year's Pacific Championships.

PNG Kumuls: Rhyse Martin skippers a Kumuls side that includes Jack de Belin at lock, Lachlan Lam at halfback and Nene Macdonald at fullback. With star hooker Edwin Ipape sidelined by injury, cult figure Judah Rimbu takes over in the No.9 on the back of a classy display for the PM's XIII. Five-eighth Kyle Laybutt plays his 12th Test match and will form a dangerous combination with Lam, who has 10 Tests to his name. Titans forward Jacob Alick will show the way up front after representing the Kumuls at the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Pac Champs.