ZACH ECKERSLEY will make his England debut alongside NRL stars Hugo Savala and Max King when Brian McDermott’s side begin their World Cup campaign on Saturday against Tonga.

The winger enjoyed a breakthrough season with Wigan Warriors, scoring 36 tries in 32 games across all competitions.

He’s been rewarded with the left wing spot ahead of Matty Ashton, who has been named on the six-man bench, as Dom Young takes the other wing position.

Savala, fresh from helping Sydney Roosters win the NRL, is at centre alongside Herbie Farnworth.

Max King, who spent the early years of his life in England before moving to Australia where he plays for Canterbury Bulldogs, is a starting prop with Morgan Knowles.

AJ Brimson has been selected to start at fullback ahead of Jack Welsby while captain George Williams and Harry Smith will play in the halves with Mikey Lewis not featuring at all.

Man of Steel Brad O’Neill will start at hooker, as Jez Litten takes a spot among the interchanges.

Victor Radley has got the nod at loose-forward while the second row is taken out by Junior Nsemba and Kai Pearce-Paul.

Luke Thompson, Ethan Havard and Sam Walters – a possible fourth debutant – are all pack rotation options on the bench, from which any four players can be used.

Lewis, Ben Currie and Ben Talty are reserves, with Morgan Smithies not on the team list at all.

NRL players outnumber Super League ones eight to five in the starting line-up, although the entire bench plies its trade in England.

Tonga, meanwhile, have chosen Latu Fainu at halfback alongside Isaiya Katoa while the pack is spearheaded by veterans Addin Fonua-Blake and Jason Taumalolo.

England: 1 AJ Brimson, 2 Dom Young, 3 Hugo Savala, 4 Herbie Farnworth, 5 Zack Eckersley, 6 George Williams, 7 Harry Smith, 8 Max King, 9 Brad O’Neill, 10 Morgan Knowles, 11 Junior Nsemba, 12 Kai Pearce-Paul, 13 Victor Radley. Subs: 14 Jez Litten, 15 Luke Thompson, 16 Ethan Havard, 17 Sam Walters, 18 Jack Welsby, 19 Matty Ashton. Reserves: 19 Ben Currie, 20 Mikey Lewis, 21 Ben Talty.

Tonga: 1 Lehi Hopoate, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Tolutau Koula, 4 Robert Toia, 5 Jojo Fifita, 6 Latu Fainu, 7 Isaiya Katoa, 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Soni Luke, 10 Jason Taumalolo, 11 Haumole Olakau’atu, 12 Siua Wong, 13 Tyson Frizell. Subs: 14 Salesi Foketi, 15 Stefano Utoikamanu, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Leka Halasima, 18 Tui Lolohea, 19 Paul Alamoti. Reserves: 20 Taniel Paseka, 21 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 22 Sione Katoa.