Latrell Mitchell is the ace Australia coach Kevin Walters has up his sleeve ahead of the side's Rugby League World Cup semi-final.
After playing in the 24-22 win over New Zealand in the World Cup opener the South Sydney talisman has been left out of the 36-22 win over Fiji and Saturday's final pool game against Cook Islands in Townsville.
Newcastle’s Bradman Best has been preferred in the latter two matches at left centre.
Mitchell has been flogged at training by Kangaroos fitness guru Andrew Croll. The four players that miss out on the 19 that play are put through their paces by hard taskmaster Croll.
On Friday at the captain’s run at Queensland Country Bank Stadium Mitchell, David Fifita, Blayke Brailey and Sam Walker were all being driven hard.
Mitchell was putting in the big ones and looked in great shape in the humid conditions.
The game breaker has not played much footy of late. If he plays in the semi-final at Allianz Stadium on November 8 it will be just his second game in eight weeks, given the Rabbitohs were knocked out of the NRL semi-finals in week one by Newcastle.
Kangaroos coach Walters has been happy to swap players in and out of the team in the pool rounds and was keeping his cards close to his chest when it was pointed out Mitchell was one of the world’s best centres.
"Well, so is Bradman, isn't he? No one's carrying injuries. We're all fit and healthy," Walters said.
"Again, it's just about the selected team for this week, and that's what I've gone with.
"The beauty of coaching this Australian side is that we've got plenty of options and I'd happily play any of the 23 players every week.
"But I can only put 19 in the squad, so the 19 we've gone with are the 19 that are going to get the job done."
Mitchell was practising his goal kicking along with Cameron Munster and fullback Reece Walsh on Friday.
Walsh, the goal kicker against Cook Islands, has Walters' backing to land the high pressure two-pointers if half Sam Walker does not play in the sudden-death rounds.
"Reece kicks for the Broncos in club land as well, so he's kicked some really good goals at all levels of the game," Walters said.
"Have you not watched Reece kick? He's pretty good. Sam's very good too. We've got Latrell there as well. So there's a whole list of good options there for Australia if required."
Walsh beat James Tedesco to the fullback role against Cook Islands but Walters was not keen to share why.
Walsh was brilliant against the Kiwis while Tedesco was the team's best in the win over Fiji.
"It's very close," Walters said on the pair's battle.
"You've got to make a decision on it. So that's what I'm doing. I feel like we've made the right decision so far."
