The 31-year-old is not the only miracle man stepping onto the park, as Fiji will have Ifereimi Rawaqa at lock just a few weeks after the big Lautoka skipper was diagnosed with a prolapsed disc.

But it is the comeback of Marsh which carries the most emotional punch, even though the player himself is playing down its significance.

“For me the real significant point came when I got back in training, and I have really put the whole thing in the past now,” said Marsh.

“It was really just frustrating with first the cancer and then the injury when I was training after that,” he said.

Marsh beat Damien Traille to the centre berth and takes his place in the heart of the French backline with Yannick Jauzion, forming an untested partnership against the Fijian pair of Aisea Tuilevu and Seru Rabeni.

Marsh will get the chance to reacquaint himself with his former provincial coach Mac McCallion, now in charge of Fiji, as well as his former team-mate Api Naevo. All three men were central figures in a golden era for Counties-Manukau in the late 1990s, as they reached the National Provincial Championship final twice.

France’s biggest selection headache proved to be in the back row, where number eight was the unlucky one. He missed out to Imanol Harinordoquy, while Serge Betsen and Olivier Magne are on the flanks.

The second row will be an intriguing battle, with Rawaqa and Naevo going up against Jerome Thion and the vastly experienced Fabien Pelous. Harinordoquy brings his line-out prowess as well, so the French will expect a steady flow of possession from the line-out.

Also boasting plenty of experience is French skipper and scrum-half Fabien Galthie, who leads France out in his fourth World Cup tournament – becoming part of a select group of players to have achieved that feat.

Fiji are a little shorter on experience, with less than half the squad boasting World Cup experience.

Sevens superstar Waisale Serevi, named on the bench, will take part in his third tournament if he gets on the field – the first Fijian to reach that mark.

Nicky Little is the team’s most-capped player and will make his 50th appearance.

Fiji have never beaten France in a Test, getting closest at the last World Cup when they went down 28-19. Five players survive from that match for France to start in this encounter and three for Fiji.

Brisbane has been hot and humid in the last few days, but the evening kick-off will ensure that is less of a factor in the match. A maximum temperature of 22 degrees Celsius is forecast for tomorrow.

The match is to be refereed by Irishman Alain Rolland.