Even though the likes of Rob Purdham, Jamie Langley, Ben Westwood and Mark Calderwood are present, the England coach has taken few chances in naming the 24 players who will attempt to wrest the rugby league World Cup from Australian hands for the first time since 1972.

The nucleus of his squad was always going to come from grand finalists Leeds and St Helens, who together contribute five-eighths – including two stand-offs – just as NRL grand finalists Melbourne and Manly contribute 11 players to Ricky Stuart's team.

But in deciding against taking along players such as Wigan prop Stuart Fielden and Castleford centre Michael Shenton or Hull's Garreth Carvell and Super League young player of the year Joe Westerman, Smith has demonstrated the conservative side of his nature.

Fielden has delivered in the past, of course, but the lingering doubts over the former Bradford forward's form and emotional readiness for the cut and thrust of international rugby league have proved too much for Smith.

While the potential of Shenton, Westerman and fellow train-on squad members Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Tony Clubb cannot be denied, their inexperience represents a variable Smith can do without.

Westerman and Carvell have both been carrying injuries and Smith is acutely aware of the inherent risks in taking unfit players to the other side of the world, as previous national coaches have found to their cost.

Hull KR winger Peter Fox can consider himself unlucky not to be on board the plane that departs Manchester Airport bound for Brisbane on Monday because, since making a a try-scoring debut against France in June, his form merits selection.

Unfortunately for Fox, both Calderwood and Lee Smith have held their hands higher and straighter in recent months and are both in on merit, not least Smith after his grand final heroics at Old Trafford.

"Lee Smith wasn't selected solely on his performance on Saturday, he's been playing well over the last half of the season when he's been pretty consistent," said coach Smith, for whom a player's ability to excel in more than one position carries much weight.

"The grand final certainly helped him cement his place. He showed to the rest of the world what he can do in another position. He's played most of his career at full-back. That was important for some additions to the team because we need versatility among some of the players who may or may not start for us.

"That was taken into account with quite a few players. When you only have 24 players there needs to be a certain amount of versatility and I think we have enough in our squad."

The same is true of Harlequins captain Purdham, the tough-as-teak Cumbrian who is equally at home in the back row or at centre and whose presence represents a considerable threat to the established players within the squad.

"He's someone who punches well above his weight," said Smith.

"He's not a massive guy, but is very strong for his size. He's a player who just turns in great performances week-in, week-out. He also gives us another option with goalkicking."

Purdham and Langley get their chance in the absence of the injured Sam Burgess and Sean O'Loughlin, both of whom might have been expected to feature if fit, while Calderwood's international ambitions are helped by the missing Gareth Raynor, who has a toe injury.

"I've had the privilege of coaching Mark before and I know what he's capable of. He showed the public just what he can do in the play-off against Bradford," said Smith.

"He's a try-scorer, people have seen that for many years and that's an important part of a winger's game. However, in his last few games he highlighted just how good he is at stopping tries. Jamie Langley is another high quality person and a quality player; he's a consistent performer who will enhance our team."

Of the other 'newish' faces Gareth Hock and Ben Westwood are back rowers who have shown genuine presence in 2008 while Bradford's Paul Sykes offers utilitarian value, as well as a rare splash of unpredictability – only three players made more errors in Super League XIII than he did.