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AUSTRALIAN coach Tim Sheens cannot guarantee Daly Cherry-Evans won't spend another 80 minutes on the bench should the Clive Churchill Medal winner take out a three-way fight with Robbie Farah and Luke Lewis to become the Kangaroos' utility.
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Seven days out from the Australian Test team's first game of the 2013 rugby league World Cup in England, Sheens told The Sunday Telegraph that Queensland No.7 Cooper Cronk and several other incumbents were safe in a declaration that leaves form players like Cherry-Evans facing mission impossible to win a finals showdown against England or New Zealand.
Sheens' biggest headache heading into Australia's World Cup opener against England at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, is what to do with the embarrassing amount of rugby league riches he has at his disposal with Cherry-Evans and Andrew Fifita two of many demanding selection after standout seasons.
The former Wests Tigers coach said he would opt for experience when the tournament gets serious, leaving only a handful of players a chance to force their way into the team by outperforming the incumbents in group games against Fiji and Ireland.
"We will give everyone a run in those matches," Sheens said.
"But in the big matches I will be looking for as much experience as possible. I think we have a lot of positions that are very solid. I would be very surprised if we changed our minds on many of the spots.
"We still have a week of training and there are some bumps and bruises but they are the things that will decide any surprises."
Sheens declared at least nine positions were already locked in and only injury could force changes.
Cherry-Evans' only hope of playing in Australia's finals campaign is to unseat NSW captain Farah as Cameron Smith's back-up hooker. And that is no mean feat, especially for a specialist No.7.
"The utility bench spot hasn't been decided," Sheens said.
"Daly will be in that but he will certainly play in the next two games, and he will probably share a game with Johnathan (Thurston) and another with Cooper. Outside of Luke Lewis, who is a forward utility, he would be up against Robbie Farah."
Sheens could not rule out leaving Cherry-Evans on the bench for another 80 minutes as he did in a Test against New Zealand last year should the Manly whiz demand finals selection during his two games against Fiji and Ireland.
"He didn't make it on in New Zealand,'' Sheens said. "And it would be unlikely for all four bench players to not get on during a game. But the big thing for a halfback is the game might not call for them if it is close and the halves are in rhythm and playing well.
"In the match he didn't play it was just a tough situation to get him out there. I did explain that to him before the match and he understood that."
Sheens is facing the biggest test of his international coaching career with Australia expected to win the series despite facing arguably the strongest England and New Zealand sides ever assembled.
The premiership winning coach admitted his side had everything to lose and nothing to gain after arriving behind enemy lines and bunkering down in Manchester.
"This is a huge challenge," he said.
"We have an extremely talented squad but we are up against some pretty bloody good opposition. We are also a long way from home and if we don't perform we will get beat. It is as simple as that."
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