Lebanon has named its 20-man squad ahead of this autumn's do-or-die 2008 World Cup qualifiers. Head coach Darren Maroon has been forced to absorb a number of heavy blows since naming his 30-man train on squad last month, with the Cedars heading into Moscow to play Russia and then onto the north of England to play Group 1 leaders Ireland without several key players.

Hazem El Masri, Lebanon’s most famous player, is unavailable, while Robbie Farah and Jarrod Saffy, Lebanon’s other National Rugby League first graders were both denied permission to tour by their club, Wests Tigers, citing the club’s loss of form at the end of last season as the reason.

Coach Darren Maroun lamented Wests’ decision, saying it “smacks of double standards” as the club’s Australian and New Zealand representatives were released by the club, in accordance with Rugby League International Federation statutes. The ranks have been filled with seven un-capped players, including Bulldogs Jersey Flegg captain Jamie Clarke.

Ray Moujali, Toufic Nicolas, Chris Saab, and Adnan and Hassan Saleh return to the national team's ranks after missing out on last year’s qualifiers in Dublin and London. All five have past Mediterranean Cup experience. Moujali, Saab and Nicolas were injured last year. The Saleh cousins were not selected.

Hassan Saleh joins Charlie Nohra and Chris Salem as the only survivors from Lebanon’s 2000 World Cup campaign. Chris Salem scored the crucial length-of-the-field interception try against Ireland in Dublin last year that put Lebanon 18-12 up while Nohra will be looking to add to his record 18 international appearances in the front row.

The 20-man squad includes five Liban Espoir players in Ghassan Dandash, Robin Hachache, Allen Soultan, Ali Kourouche and Youssef El Helou.

Injuries have ruled out last year's form forward, Charles Farah, and workhorse loose forward, tackling machine Philip Takchi.

Coach Darren Maroun lamented Wests’ decision, saying it “smacks of double standards” as the club’s Australian and New Zealand representatives were released by the club, in accordance with Rugby League International Federation statutes. The ranks have been filled with seven un-capped players, including Bulldogs Jersey Flegg captain Jamie Clarke.

Ray Moujali, Toufic Nicolas, Chris Saab, and Adnan and Hassan Saleh return to the national team's ranks after missing out on last year’s qualifiers in Dublin and London. All five have past Mediterranean Cup experience. Moujali, Saab and Nicolas were injured last year. The Saleh cousins were not selected.

Hassan Saleh joins Charlie Nohra and Chris Salem as the only survivors from Lebanon’s 2000 World Cup campaign. Chris Salem scored the crucial length-of-the-field interception try against Ireland in Dublin last year that put Lebanon 18-12 up while Nohra will be looking to add to his record 18 international appearances in the front row.

The 20-man squad includes five Liban Espoir players in Ghassan Dandash, Robin Hachache, Allen Soultan, Ali Kourouche and Youssef El Helou.

Injuries have ruled out last year's form forward, Charles Farah, and workhorse loose forward, tackling machine Philip Takchi.