Star winger James O'Connor has been left out of Australia's starting line-up for their World Cup opener against Italy on Sunday.

The 21-year-old is available for selection again after serving a one-match ban for failing to turn up for the official World Cup squad announcement.

O'Connor missed last month's Tri Nations-clinching victory over New Zealand as a result and selectors have opted to keep an unchanged team for the Italy contest in Auckland.

There was some speculation O'Connor's goal-kicking prowess would earn him an instant recall to the side but Adam Ashley-Cooper's rousing performance against the Kiwis means the youngest member of the Wallabies squad has to be content with a place on the bench.

"I'm just glad to be back in the team and to be getting a shot at the Italians is going to be awesome," said an upbeat O'Connor.

"It was such an awesome performance [against New Zealand in Brisbane] and I was stoked for the boys and they deserve to be playing."

O'Connor's exclusion means that Anthony Fainga'a remains at outside centre while Ashley-Cooper keeps his place on the wing.

Australia coach Robbie Deans added: "He [O'Connor] wasn't available to us in the last instance, he is on this occasion and he has been selected on the bench which is one step closer.

"It's like injuries and a lot of time is spent talking about players who are not available to you but the game is not about that, it's about the people who are available to you and those lucky enough to get the opportunity."

O'Connor is one of three new faces on the bench, with prop James Slipper (ankle) and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau (knee) set to return from injury.

Rob Horne, Saia Fainga'a and Salesi Ma'afu are the unlucky men to drop out of the 22.

Berrick Barnes, Nathan Sharpe, Drew Mitchell, Wycliff Palu and Nick Phipps are the other members of the 30-man squad to miss out on selection.

Australia team: Kurtley Beale; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Anthony Fainga'a, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, Dan Vickerman, James Horwill, Rocky Elsom, David Pocock, Radike Samo.

Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Ben McCalman, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Burgess, James O'Connor.

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