Barrett forms an irresistible partnership with Johns

Chris McKenna
Club: Cronulla Sharks.
Date of birth: 29/10/74.
Position: Centre.
Caps: 1.
McKenna can thank his stunning State of Origin displays for earning him a call-up from Chris Anderson. The talented Queenslander will be making only his second Test appearance.

Timana Tahu
Club: Newcastle Knights.
Date of birth: 16/10/80.
Position: Wing/centre.
Caps: 0.
Tahu almost blew his chances of a call-up after a poor display for NSW in the third Origin game. But his versatility - he can also play in the centres - was enough to convince selectors he deserved a first cap.

Trent Barrett
Club: St George Illawarra Dragons.
Date of birth: 18/11/77.
Position: Stand-off.
Caps: 8.
Barrett is a great athlete who can dominate games when he is at his dynamic best. Should he hit top form against Great Britain, the tourists will find it hard to repel him and the halfback partner Andrew Johns.

Lockyer will pose Great Britain plenty of problems

Andrew Johns (captain)
Club: Newcastle Knights.
Date of birth: 19/5/74.
Position: Scrum-half.
Caps: 21.
Johns was crowned the world's best player for a second time in 2001. Now the mercurial half-back, who captivates the opposition with his vision and sleight of hand, has added to his list of honours by becoming Brad Fittler's successor as captain of Australia. The man GB will fear most.

Scott Hill
Club: Melbourne Storm.
Date of birth: 30/5/77.
Position: Loose forward/stand-off.
Caps: 8.
Hill was a member of Australia's World Cup-winning squad in 2000 and scored two tries in the World Club Challenge win over St Helens earlier that year. He has had his problems with injury, missing the Ashes series because of minor shoulder surgery, but he is still a formidable player.

Gorden Tallis
Club: Brisbane Broncos.
Date of birth: 27/7/73.
Position: Second row.
Caps: 13.
Tallis missed most of last season after having surgery on his spine. But the player nicknamed the 'Raging Bull' is back to his best and ready to put the GB defence to the test. Lost out on the captaincy to Andrew Johns but a natural leader who commands the utmost respect.

Tallis missed out on the captaincy to Johns

Steve Simpson
Club: Newcastle Knights.
Date of birth: 27/9/79.
Position: Second row.
Caps: 0.
Simpson finds himself on the same side as Gorden Tallis, a player with whom he traded verbal blows ahead of the Origin series. But the tall and rangy forward deserves his Test debut after matching his vice-captain on the field of play.

Shane Webcke
Club: Brisbane Broncos.
Date of birth: 28/9/74.
Position: Prop.
Caps: 13.
Webcke is regarded as one of the best forwards in the game - and his reputation remained intact despite his decision to pull out of Australia's Ashes tour of 2001 because of fears sparked by the terrorist attacks of 11 September.

Danny Buderus
Club: Newcastle Knights.
Date of birth: 6/2/78.
Position: Hooker.
Caps: 5.
Buderus has become a firm fixture in the Australian team ever since winning a shock call-up for last year's Test against New Zealand. Hugely dependable, defensively strong and links up brilliantly with scrum-half Andrew Johns.

Ryles has been plagued by disciplinary problems

Jason Ryles
Club: St George Illawarra Dragons.
Date of birth: 17/1/79.
Position: Prop.
Caps: 3.
Ryles' poor disciplinary record has threatened to put a major spanner in his career but he continues to attract the plaudits. Tall and powerful, he made his Test debut in last year's 54-12 win over Papua New Guinea before earning a place in the squad to tour Great Britain.

Steve Menzies
Club: Northern Eagles.
Date of birth: 4/12/73.
Position: Second row.
Caps: 12.
Menzies has been in inspirational form for the Eagles, leading his side from the front and breaking a few records along the way. His brace of tries against the Bulldogs last weekend made him the top try-scorer for the Manly club. Back in the Australian line-up after a four-year break.

Jason Stevens
Club: Cronulla Sharks.
Date of birth: 8/1/73.
Position: Prop.
Caps: 16.
Stevens missed the Origin series because of injury but still earned a place in the 17-man squad. Suspended for the second Ashes Test last year for stamping on Terry O'Connor's face, he will lock horns with the Wigan forward again in Sydney.

Stevens will renew rivalries with Terry O'Connor

Brent Tate
Club: Brisbane Broncos.
Date of birth: 3/3/82.
Position: Centre.
Caps: 0.
Tate has only played 16 NRL games and came off the bench for Queensland in the third Origin clash, but he has clearly made his mark. A bit of an unknown quantity for GB, Brent has plenty of pace and is a prolific try-scorer.

Willie Mason
Club: Canterbury Bulldogs.
Date of birth: 15/4/80.
Position: Prop.
Caps: 0.
Mason's inclusion comes as a shock after he missed out on the Origin series, but selectors feel he is one of the form forwards in the NRL this season. The New Zealand-born player, who played for Tonga in the 2000 World Cup, will look to make his mark off the bench.