(This has been updated with a change in our lineup due to Cam Dolan's injury)

The USA Men’s National Team still has a day to get its game-day roster set, but here’s a look at what you should expect:

It seems highly unlikely that anyone other that Olive Kilifi, Eric Fry, or Nick Wallace will start at prop. Mate Moeakiola is a supremely experienced prop, and is there because of his experience. Expect him to be on the bench as an impact sub, but not as a starter expected to go 50-80 minutes.

Phil Thiel will likely start at hooker with Tom Coolican on the bench.

At lock/loose forward Tolkin has some choices. He will likely opt for Lou Stanfill and Samu Manoa in the second row, with Todd Clever at #6, Scott LaValla as open side flanker, and normally we'd say Cam Dolan at No. 8. But as Phil Terrigno informed me, he's injured, so that won't do. So the good move may well be to put Manoa in at No. 8, and Hayden Smith in at lock. Tai Tuisamoa and Danny Barrett offer some flexibility on the bench.

Mike Petri should be the starter at scrumhalf with Adam Siddall at flyhalf. Blaine Scully is likely the right wing and Chris Wyles the fullback. There’s a contest at left wing between Tim Maupin and the hopefully healthy Brett Thompson. But if Thompson is healthy, you wonder if Maupin can crack the 22, given that they need versatility. They’d get more out of Troy Hall on the bench.

The question in the midfield is a simple one. Andrew Suniula should be the inside center, so should the outside center be Seamus Kelly or Folau Niua? One will start, the other will be on the bench.

Also likely on the bench will be Shalom Suniula, who can play scrumhalf or flyhalf, and so gives the USA options come sub time.

So this is what we think the lineup will be:
1. Eric Fry
2. Phil Thiel
3. Olive Kilifi
4. Hayden Smith
5. Lou Stanfill
6. Todd Clever
7. Scott LaValla
8. Samu Manoa
9. Mike Petri
10. Adam Siddall
11. Brett Thompson
12. Andrew Suniula
13. Seamus Kelly
14. Blaine Scully
15. Chris Wyles

16. Tom Coolican
17. Nick Wallace
18. Mate Moeakiola
19. Tai Tuisamoa
20. Danny Barrett
21. Shalom Suniula
22. Folau Niua
23. Troy Hall

It’s possible Tim Maupin or Tai Tuisamoa could get a look on the bench, but I think we’ll see three front-rowers for sure.

And just for fun, measure that lineup to the lineup you might see against Romania a week later:

1. Nick Wallace
2. Phil Thiel
3. Olive Kilifi
4. Lou Stanfill
5. Tai Tuisamoa
6. Danny Barrett
7. John Quill
8. Todd Clever
9. Mike Petri
10. Adam Siddall
11. Brett Thompson
12. Andrew Suniula
13. Seamus Kelly
14. Taku Ngwenya
15. Troy Hall

16. Tom Coolican
17. Mate Moeakiola
18. Ben Tarr
19 and 20. John Cullen or Greg Peterson or Kyle Sumsion
21. Shalom Suniula
22. Folau Niua
23. Tim Maupin

It may be that Head Coach Mike Tolkin will use the Romania game, the game where the USA is most favored, to rest some players and give other players some more time. So Coolican could start at hooker, and Suniula could start at scrumhalf.