Australia coach Tim Sheens insists there is still Rugby League World Cup places to play for in his side despite naming an 18-man squad containing no shock selections for Friday’s Test against New Zealand in Canberra.

Sheens has recalled Sam Thaiday, Anthony Watmough, Luke Lewis, Kurt Gidley and Justin Hodges for the game after the five missed the last-start Test against the Kiwis in Townsville due to injury.

Canterbury’s Josh Morris is named 18th man, with Nate Myles keeping his place ahead of Tony Williams, whose early-season form costs him a ninth Test cap.

Canberra prop David Shillington misses out due to a rib cartilage injury, leaving Myles the only front-rower on the bench with Gidley usurping Robbie Farah for the utility spot.

“The configuration of the front row, we’ve gone an interesting way,” Sheens said.

“We will be using (Paul) Gallen and Thaiday as front-rowers when we need them. It’s fairly mobile to counteract their running out of dummy-half from around the ruck.”

The World Cup takes place in the UK and Ireland in October, but Sheens said there is still plenty to play for a spot on the plane.

“It’s a side that is quite familiar, but it is a long year and nobody is guaranteed a spot,’ he said.

“Origin always throws up a few candidates and was originally used as a trial for the Test side.”

Team: Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Brett Morris, Johnathan Thurston. Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith (capt), James Tamou, Greg Bird, Sam Thaiday, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Kurt Gidley, Luke Lewis, Nate Myles, Anthony Watmough. 18th man: Josh Morris.