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Hayne to face PNG

SYDNEY - Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne was named at fullback but shapes as a wing option for the Kangaroos as Australian coach Tim Sheens named a powerful side to represent the Prime Minister's XIII later this month.

Normally a squad containing a mish-mash of youngsters, established stars and veteran journeymen, the PM's XIII to take on Papua New Guinea in Kokopo on September 29 contains no less than nine players with Test experience in the starting line-up.

With Sheens to take a squad of 24 to the UK and Ireland in a bid to reclaim the World Cup, a number of players will be out to press their claims.

No position is more open than centre, with incumbent Justin Hodges sidelined with a ruptured Achilles.

Veteran Brent Tate and Canterbury's Josh Morris were both named in the PM's side to be coached by Laurie Daley, while the likes of Sydney Roosters flyer Michael Jennings and Newcastle bolter Dane Gagai would also be considered candidates.

Jennings and Gagai were not considered for selection in the team to play in PNG, with their NRL sides still involved in the finals series.

"There's no doubt, the two boys playing in that game (Tate and Morris) will be considered, they've both played for me before in the Australian side," Sheens told AAP.

"It's also a game that everybody needs given it's still quite a few weeks until we play the Test against England.

"It's ideally placed to give them a little bit more match conditioning in between their last game and the first match at the World Cup."

PM's XIII to play PNG: Jarryd Hayne, Brett Morris, Brent Tate, Josh Morris, Kevin Gordon, Greg Bird, Aidan Sezer, Ryan James, Robbie Farah, James Tamou, Sam Thaiday, Josh Papalii, Corey Parker. Interchange: Gavin Cooper, Matt Gillett, David Shillington, Josh Reynolds. 18th man: Aiden Tolman
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