Scotland have been dealt a major blow after Australian hooker or half-back Peter Wallace was ruled out of the World Cup through injury.
Wallace needs to undergo surgery after playing for his Penrith club with three broken ribs and a broken hand in the NRL play-off series.
Scotland coach Steve McCormack said: "It's disappointing we won't have Peter as he is a class act but we have managed without him for the last three years and done well.
"We have some very talented hookers and just like when anyone gets injured, an opportunity opens up for someone else. There are several players in our squad who got their first opportunity because of injury to another player and they took it with both hands."
North Queensland duo Kane Linnett and Lachlan Coote came through last Sunday's NRL Grand Final unscathed and are expected to be named in McCormack's squad on Tuesday.
The Bravehearts will fly out to Brisbane on Sunday, October 15 to set up camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Lennox Heads and play a warm-up match against New South Wales Country Under-23s at Ballina on Friday, October 20.
Their opening match is against star-studded Tonga in Cairns on Sunday, October 29 and they also play New Zealand and Samoa in their group.