GRIEVING halfback Johnathan Thurston has been recalled for the Kangaroos' final World Cup pool match, against PNG on Sunday in Townsville.

The game will be held just six days after the funeral of his uncle, who died on the eve of the tournament.

The North Queensland star missed the Kangaroos' 52-4 humiliation of England due to a shoulder injury, and while he has overcome that ailment, his mental state still appears to be of some concern before the clash with the Kumuls.

However, coach Ricky Stuart, who joined Thurston at the funeral of Richard Saunders on Monday, had little hesitation in selecting the Queenslander in the starting side, with Scott Prince dropping back to the interchange.

Veteran forward Craig Fitzgibbon has also been given a chance to impress before the semi-finals with selection in a starting side that includes four Manly players - Anthony Watmough, Brent Kite, Josh Perry and David Williams. Fullback Billy Slater, skipper Darren Lockyer and prop Petero Civoniceva have been rested.

Williams and Watmough will join St George Illawarra-bound winger Darius Boyd and Canberra five-eighth Terry Campese in making their Test debuts. Fitzgibbon has not played a Test since the Kangaroos lost the Tri-Nations final 24-0 against New Zealand in Leeds.

England's under-pressure coach Tony Smith has made several changes to the side walloped by Australia, however, a number of them have been forced.

Maurie Fa'asavalu (broken hand) and Jon Wilkin (facial bruising) have been ruled out of their clash with New Zealand, while five-eighth Leon Pryce remains in doubt with a rib injury.

Winger Lee Smith, who scored a hat-trick against PNG but missed the clash with the Kangaroos, has been recalled, joining the yet to be seen Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Mickey Higham, Jamie Langley, Rob Purdham, Paul Sykes and Ben Westwood in a 19-man squad.

The Kiwis have made five changes. Prop Evarn Tuimavave will make his Test debut, replacing captain Nathan Cayless, while David Kidwell will play off the bench, and David Fa'alogo will start, replacing Setaimata Sa. Jason Nightingale, Steve Matai and Bronson Harrison will all play, with Jeremy Smith to captain the side.