The Kangaroos have scored a comfortable win over Italy in their final pool match as they advanced to the quarter-finals of the Rugby League World Cup.
The Australians ran in 12 tries to one as they topped Group B.
The question as to who will be Mal Meninga's half-back is no closer to being answered as Nathan Cleary and Daly Cherry-Evans played out a stalemate in Australia's 66-6 win over Italy.
In their final group game, the Kangaroos outclassed a gritty Azzurri but they were made to work for it on a chilly night in front of 5,586 fans in St Helens.
Wingers Murray Taulagi and Campbell Graham both grabbed try-scoring doubles to strengthen their claims for inclusion for next weekend, when Meninga's men are likely to meet Michael Cheika's Lebanon.
The concern for Meninga after his team's dominating win may be the fact lock Isaah Yeo was placed on report by referee Liam Moore for a second-half crusher tackle.
Parramatta prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard, who didn't return following the half-time break, also copped a cork to his thigh.
Campbell-Gillard is in no doubt for the quarters next Friday (Saturday AEDT), but who will be Australia's first-choice half-back for that game remains unknown.
Cherry-Evans had a hand in Australia's first two tries and looked the more assured customer as he reverted to playing five-eighth in the absence of Cameron Munster.
The Manly skipper dispatched a crossfield kick for Valentine Holmes to gather from the air and score the game's opening try after eight minutes before combining with Latrell Mitchell to send Taulagi over for Australia's second.
Cleary failed to convert both opening tries but finished with nine from 12 attempts after warming to the contest.
The Penrith playmaker sent Australia captain and former Italy international James Tedesco over in the 20th minute, adding the extras before an impressive kick strangled Italy.
Spotting Azzurri full-back Luke Polselli out of position, Cleary forced a dropout from his own half with a powerful boot down field.
Graham scored off the drop-out with Mitchell and Taulagi also going in before half-time to give Australia a 30-0 advantage.
Yeo and Liam Martin pushed the Aussies further ahead but the biggest cheer of the night came when Campbelltown-born Rinaldo Palumbo scored for the Italians by diving on a grubber kick into the in-goal in the 53rd minute.
It was to be the Italians' only moment of cheer as Cameron Murray, Graham, Lindsay Collins and Jeremiah Nanai went over to further underline Australia's dominance.
AAP/ABC
