The Kangaroos, the defending champions, will begin their account on home soil against their big rivals at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, on October 27.

Both sides have been placed in Group A - one of two pools which feature four teams - and will also meet France and Lebanon.

In Group B, New Zealand, another host nation, will meet Scotland, Samoa and Tonga.

The third host, Papua New Guinea, will entertain two European qualifiers in Group C.

Group D will feature Fiji, United States and another qualifier from Europe.

Three sides from Groups A and B will reach the quarter-finals, with the pools containing the heavyweights of the sport in order to ensure some top-level matches in the opening stages.

Only the winners of Group C and Group D will advance.

"The tournament draw demonstrates how far and wide we are taking matches, from established Rugby League communities, to those new and emerging fan bases in all three countries," said the World Cup's chief executive Michael Brown.

"Over the course of the pool stages we have looked to position matches in strong Rugby League communities and where large populations of ex-pats, Pacifica and indigenous fans live, to give those who love the sport and their national teams the chance to see some World Cup action. 

"The decision to take matches to places like Darwin, Perth, Christchurch and Port Moresby were made with the future of the game in mind. 

"They are matches we believe will give profile to the sport in markets that have already shown an appetite for rugby league."