Australia coach Kevin Walters recalled Reece Walsh, dropped Sam Walker, and paired Dearden with Munster for the match against Cook Islands.
Australia coach Kevin Walters has recalled Reece Walsh ahead of James Tedesco and dropped Sam Walker in favour of Tom Dearden for Saturday's World Cup clash against Cook Islands in Townsville.
Kangaroos mentor Walters is backing 'Reece Lightning' at fullback and a new halves pairing of Dearden and Cameron Munster to bury the Kukis and finish Pool A undefeated at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Meanwhile, Canberra's Ethan Strange, a late call-up to the squad after Mitchell Moses broke down with a calf injury, is set to make his Test debut after being named on the six-man bench in the No.14 jumper.
There was a push for Walters to retain Tedesco after the Roosters champion was Australia's best player in last Sunday night's scrappy 36-22 defeat of Fiji at Suncorp Stadium.
But Walters has made the agonising call to omit Tedesco and stay loyal to Walsh, who was Australia's starting fullback for the Kangaroos' World Cup-opening defeat of the Kiwis.