Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has named Australia’s biggest ever midfield pairing for Saturday’s opening Test against England in Brisbane.

Debutant Samu Kerevi will start at inside centre for the Wallabies alongside Tevita Kurindrani, with Christian Lealiifano named on the bench.

Lealiifano only arrived in camp on Wednesday evening following the birth of his first child in Canberra.

Despite his absence, Cheika said training hadn’t been disrupted in the lead up to the test and said he wasn’t worried about handing the sole playmaking duties to flyhalf Bernard Foley.

“We knew we would have to prepare for both scenarios with Lealiifano.”

“I suppose traditionally we have shaped up that way with the two traditional playmakers but I’ve really been impressed by Kerevi.”

Kerevi has played most of his rugby at outside centre for the Reds, but did enough during the two week Wallabies camp to earn the No.12 jersey.

“He roamed around both teams last week but started to firm up his place up in that formation early this week,” Cheika said.

“Samu has played really nicely for Queensland in the last half dozen games or so and he’s proved himself in training with Kurindrani. We’ve got a lot of players that can make breaks out there and that’s what we are looking to do, make breaks.

“It changes up the way we look from a footy perspective but I think something we need to do is evolve as a footy team.”

Cheika said he wasn’t tempted to shift Israel Folau to the front line, despite his recent form at outside centre for the Waratahs.

“I wasn’t speculating, everyone else was,” the coach said.

“I understand the opposition will have a tactic to keep him out of the game but it is up to us to get him into the game.”

Kerevi is one of four debutants named in the side, with Brumbies lock Rory Arnold and Force winger Dane Heylett-Petty set to start and Reds halfback Nick Frisby named on the bench.

“The opportunity to have four new caps shows how much we believe in our players. Four new caps in one game is a fair few and I’m really looking forward to it,” Cheika said.

“They’ve put in a great amount of effort in these few weeks and I can tell they are stinging for the game.”

Reds utility Karmichael Hunt was tipped to be on track to make his International debut but was ruled out with an ongoing groin injury.

“He’s run okay, but he’s been unable to open right up so we’ll take a look at where that goes and make some assessments on whether he stays in the camp and tries to improve it before the next game, or if goes for some further treatment,” Cheika said.