Cricket ACT boss Cameron French is confident the absence of the Big Bash League's best performing players will be overshadowed by the "future stars of Australian cricket" in the Prime Minister's XI clash.
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke will coach the PM's XI team against Sri Lanka on February 15 and says he is thrilled to link up with some of his ex-teammates.
Cricket Australia unveiled the PM's XI squad on Friday with former Test players Adam Voges, George Bailey and James Pattinson included in a squad of unfamiliar faces.
The PM's XI will be played as a Twenty20 fixture this year for the first time in the game's history.
But Big Bash leading wicket taker Sean Abbott, leading run scorer Ben Dunk and Australian one-day international hero Marcus Stoinos were all left out of the PM's XI squad.
The PM's XI have has traditionally been a launching pad for unknown talent and the game has produced 18 Australian players in the past three years.
French expects ticket sales to be strong after the squad was released while Australia's World Cup-winning captain Clarke is keen to work with "exciting young talent".
There are four players in the team who are under the age of 21, including three teenagers, while Voges will be the PM's XI captain in a farewell match.
Clarke was tapped on the shoulder by Cricket Australia in November and asked to either captain or coach the side, and leapt at the opportunity to mentor the hosts.
"I played with and against quite a few players in the team during my career, including captain Adam Voges, and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside him," Clarke said.
"Most importantly, this is a great opportunity for all the players in the side to perform against a strong international team.
"I think we'll be really competitive against Sri Lanka, and I know we can play an exciting brand of cricket in front of what will hopefully be a big crowd in Canberra."
French lauded the decision to bring Clarke in as coach against a fully-fledged international outfit in Sri Lanka, with three players still in their teens.
"Whenever you have a former Australian captain around and young players around, it's a great opportunity for them to learn, not just about how to play on the field but how to prepare - all those things that the great players always do to give themselves every chance," French said.
Among the five internationals are Tasmanian skipper Bailey and Queensland batsman Joe Burns, who have both represented Australia this season in ODI and Test cricket respectively.
Fast bowlers Pattinson and Daniel Worrall have both taken the new ball for Australia and the Prime Minister's XI is their next step on the comeback trail from injury.
Victorian young gun Will Pucovski headlines generation next with the 19-year-old batsman in the midst of his Sheffield Shield debut.
Teenage NSW spinner Arjun Nair claimed 11 wickets in five domestic one-day matches for the Cricket Australia XI this season.
Seventeen-year-old batsman Jason Sangha will need an absentee note signed in his final year of school as he becomes the youngest player to play for the Prime Minister's XI.
"They're the future stars of Australian cricket and I know the selectors were really keen to pick and stretch a couple of young players," French said.
"They are the future stars and it will be worth coming down and having a look. Ticket sales have been really strong. We [have] expected a really good turnout for the game."
Wests-UC batsman Matthew Gilkes will fill the role of 12th man as Canberra's representative, where he will be fresh off playing for the ACT XI in the curtain-raiser against Papua New Guinea.
Prime Minister's XI squad: Adam Voges (c), D'Arcy Short (WA), George Bailey (TAS), Joe Burns (QLD), James Pattinson, Will Pucovski (VIC), Alex Carey, Daniel Worrall (SA), Arjun Nair, Jason Sangha, Henry Thornton (NSW), Matthew Gilkes (12th man, ACT). Coach: Michael Clarke.
PRIME MINISTER'S XI
Wednesday 15 February: Prime Minister's XI vs Sri Lanka at Manuka Oval, 7.15pm. Tickets from Ticketek.