Melbourne's big three, who played their last game together at club level in winning the NRL grand final earlier this month, will be joined by teammate Will Chambers and Cowboys playmaker Michael Morgan on the sideline as Meninga exercises extreme caution during his side's final World Cup hit-out.

Should someone suffer a World Cup-ending injury in Saturday's unique three-way match, the Kangaroos would need to apply for special dispensation to register another player. World Cup squads had to be lodged by Friday, meaning Meninga would need to find a replacement player not already selected for the tournament.

Storm No.6 Cameron Munster will make his Australian debut at five-eighth, outside veteran playmaker James Maloney who takes on halfback duties.

St George Illawarra-bound Ben Hunt will play at hooker, while Cronulla speedster Valentine Holmes starts at fullback.

"We'll treat it like a normal game. We have a starting team and a bench, it's unlimited [interchange], we're still playing 80 minutes of rugby league," Meninga said.

"We'll swap the players around, we will see how the game and their fitness goes and how they handle the conditions.

"There might be storms. It could be humid. Everyone will get a fair chop on the game minutes wise."

Meninga had initially planned to play his grand final-winning stars in Fiji, but decided earlier in the week it wasn't worth the risk.

"We thought those key guys would play 40 minutes and then get a spell," Meninga said.

"Around the rules of the World Cup we have to name our 24 today [Friday]. Touch wood no one gets hurt but if they do they have to apply to have a player replaced.

"That's a difficult process. We can't pick players who have been selected in other sides.

"There is a bit of a criteria we have to push up with. No point playing the players who are definitely going to play the English game.

"They are relishing the opportunity to freshen up. We don't have to worry about their fitness, they are all great players."

Australia's World Cup campaign opens in Melbourne against England on October 27.

Meninga is a long way off settling on his starting XIII for the first game of the tournament, and will use Saturday's match to test out a variety of different combinations.

"All 24 will play throughout the World Cup campaign, they'll get a chance to play well and put pressure on the individual positions, it's about internal competition," Meninga said.

"Billy, Cooper and Smithy are fairly secure in their positions. You don't know what is going to happen in the next few weeks, things may change.

"Six [five-eighth] and the outside backs are in contention."