With the exception of coach Robbie Deans, Australian rugby fans won't have too many new faces to familiarise themselves with when our international campaign kicks off.

While I predict that Force centre Ryan Cross and Waratahs pair Sekope Kepu and Luke Burgess will be in the frame, the selectors are likely to rely on the same personnel who went to the World Cup when they pick a 30-man squad for the international season.

Here's how I reckon we'll line up:

Halves: Sam Cordingley probably had a mortgage on the No.9 spot up until last weekend, but Burgess, a player Rod Macqueen has big raps on, was fantastic against the Blues. Burgess was in one of the Wallabies squads we picked last year but injury cost him an end-of-season tour. He struggled to make the top tier at the Brumbies, despite the fact many good judges rated him very highly.

Burgess and Cordingley are clearly the best two halfbacks in the country. But can Burgess be consistent week in, week out? Matt Giteau's form has been outstanding at five-eighth under the new ELVs. Whether he plays at No.10 or No.12 could come down to whether the new laws are kept. He is Australia's premier rugby player.

Kurtley Beale and Berrick Barnes are the obvious alternatives. In his first year out of school, Beale had a pretty ordinary Super 14 season last year. He showed great form in the ARC and although his kicking game wasn't great, he knew when to put boot to ball. Barnes put in some great performances at the World Cup, and he can play at 10 and 12, so he has something to add to the bench. My feeling is Giteau will be the No.10. 

Hookers: It will probably come down to the NSW pair of Tatafu Polata-Nau and Adam Freier. Incumbent Stephen Moore has struggled for form this year and been unable to nail a run-on spot with the Queensland Reds.

Props: Matt Dunning will be the first prop picked because of his ability to play loosehead and tighthead. A bolter is NSW loosehead Kepu, although the step up will be a big one.

Like Kepu, Queensland's Danya Edwards has caught the eye. His body shape in the scrum is good but his workrate may let him down. The other contenders are Guy Shepherdson, who is returning to form with the Brumbies, Al Baxter, Benn Robinson and Queensland's Greg Holmes.

But it appears Baxter may struggle to get a look in after equalling Ewen McKenzie's record for the number of Test caps for a prop. For mine, it's Kefu, Robinson, Dunning and Shepherdson.

Locks: Dan Vickerman and Nathan Sharpe are still the top two locks. James Horwill is pushing them, and Mark Chisholm has a chance to knock out Vickerman or Sharpe because he's a stronger scrummager. But my feeling is Vickerman and Sharpe will get the nod. It will be interesting how Deans views Vickerman and Chris Latham, both of whom are sure to go overseas at the end of the season.

Breakaways: Rocky Elsom is head and shoulders above everyone else at blindside flanker. George Smith and Phil Waugh will continue their ongoing feud for the openside spot. David Pocock continues to emerge as a contender.

At No.8, Wycliff Palu has showed great form and the Force's Richard Brown is also playing good rugby.

Centres: The Wallabies have the top outside-centre in the world in Stirling Mortlock. Whether they want to risk moving him to inside-centre to accommodate Cross will be interesting. Cross has been in good form for the Force. Mortlock has been trialled at No.12 before but he is definitely more effective as a 13. If they stick with him there, the likes of Barnes could be considered at No.12.

Wingers: It's daylight second behind Lote Tuqiri and Drew Mitchell. Adam Ashley-Cooper's season has been knocked about by injury and he needs a strong finish over the next three or four weeks. Mark Gerrard and Scott Staniforth will be pressing for squad positions, and Lachie Turner has suffered a little by having to play at fullback. Gerrard may fill the final spot if selectors go for four wingers.

Fullback: Cameron Shepherd will be the back-up for Ashley-Cooper and Chris Latham.

So there you have it. Plenty of familiar faces, but a team that can beat anyone in the world on its day. Some of the players from last year's World Cup campaign - Shepherdson, Moore, Palu, Barnes and Mitchell - were in their first or second year of international rugby, so they will be better for the experience. Deans will have a very good squad at his disposal.