SAINTS players are due to feature in five of the opening seven Rugby League World Cup matches this weekend.

As well as Jonny Lomax, James Roby and Alex Walmsley being named in the England 17 against Australia in Melbourne on Friday morning, there's action ahead for Regan Grace, Morgan Knowles, Kyle Amor, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Luke Douglas and Theo Fages too.

Grace is to appear on the left wing and Knowles at loose forward for Wales against Papua New Guinea.

Ireland have called on Amor at prop and McCarthy-Scarsbrook in the second row to face Italy.

Douglas is to feature in the front row for Scotland against Tonga, while Fages will skipper France from stand-off against Lebanon.

FIXTURES AND TV (all times are UK time): Key - Kick off time, fixture, venue (live TV coverage in brackets)

Friday, October 27:

10am, England v Australia, AAMI Park, Melbourne (BBC 2, 9am; Premier Sports 9am; FreeSports 9am).

Highlights: BBC 2, 11.50pm.

Saturday, October 28:

6am, Papua New Guinea v Wales, Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby (Premier Sports, 5.30am).

8.10am, New Zealand v Samoa, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (Premier Sports, 8am).

10.40am, Fiji v USA, 1300Smiles Stadium, Townsville (Premier Sports, 10.30am; FreeSports, 10.30am).

Highlights: BBC 2, 2.30pm.

Sunday, October 29:

4am, Ireland v Italy, Barlow Park, Cairns (Premier Sports, 3.30am).

5am, France v Lebanon, GIO Stadium, Canberra (FreeSports, 5am; Premier Sports, 8.30am).

6.15am, Scotland v Tonga, Barlow Park, Cairns (Premier Sports, 6am).

Highlights: BBC2, 5pm.