Questions remain over who will be Australia's halfback when the Kangaroos line up against Italy for their final pool game at the Rugby League World Cup.
It is a riddle to which nobody outside Mal Meninga's inner circle knows the answer, after the coach named Daly Cherry-Evans and Nathan Cleary in an Australia Test team listed in alphabetical order.
The decision to deviate from announcing the Kangaroos by position could be interpreted as hesitancy from Meninga in anointing either Cleary or Cherry-Evans his first-choice halfback as the quarter-finals draw closer.
Five-eighth Cameron Munster has been rested for the Italy clash in St Helens on Saturday (5.30am Sunday AEDT) meaning Cleary and Cherry-Evans will play alongside each other for the first time.
The pair were rotated out of the opening two games and are aware a decision is looming over which of them will be the halfback of choice come the knockout stages.
"Mal's made clear from the get-go not everyone's going to get to play throughout the whole tournament," Cherry-Evans said.
"Pretty soon he's going to have to make some really big decisions and it's going to be hard.
"People are going to miss out, not because they're playing bad but because Mal's just got to make decisions as coach."
Along with Munster, Harry Grant and Angus Crichton will also sit out, while James Tedesco is listed in the 19-man squad to play against the nation he represented at the 2013 and 2017 world cups.
Tedesco may make way to allow Latrell Mitchell and Valentine Holmes a shot at fullback, with Australia's captain having started both games so far.
Reuben Cotter's return from a concussion and Grant's absence may mean the North Queensland star rotates in at hooker with Ben Hunt.
But for Cleary and Cherry-Evans, who have tasted glory at club and State of Origin level respectively this NRL season, the final pool fixture represents a chance to make a lasting impression.
Both are archetypal halfbacks with good organisational skills and a strong kicking game, and convention would suggest one or the other must take charge of the team.
Convention, though, may be about to be broken.
"We're going to mix it up a bit," Cleary said.
"We'll just see how it's going and who's got the flow at the time.
"Daly is so good I can float around and work off him. It's something new for both of us.
"I'm actually not sure (who is the halfback and five-eighth). I wear No.14 and he wears No.2. The idea for us is that we're wanting to work together as much as we can."
Cleary said whoever called the shots against the Italians would be doing their utmost to help the team, not enhance their own career prospects.
"No one's thinking, 'I have to play well, because I want to make the team'," he said.
"That's been the beauty of this team so far - there's no individuals or ego taking over to try and make themselves look better."
AUSTRALIA TEAM (in alphabetical order)
12. Matt Burton, 6. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 13. Patrick Carrigan, 2. Daly Cherry-Evans, 14. Nathan Cleary, 15. Lindsay Collins, 16. Reuben Cotter, 18. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, 19. Campbell Graham, 4. Valentine Holmes, 3. Ben Hunt, 21. Liam Martin, 8. Latrell Mitchell, 11. Cameron Murray (vc), 22. Jeremiah Nanai, 23. Murray Taulagi, 1. James Tedesco (C), 10. Jack Wighton, 24. Isaah Yeo (vc).
