The Wallabies will play their first afternoon Test on Australian soil for six years when they host Samoa at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on July 17.

The return to a daylight Test, with a 2pm kick-off, was announced on Tuesday as the season opener in a year when the Wallabies will also campaign for a third Rugby World Cup title in New Zealand over September-October.

ARU boss John O'Neill said the early kick off initiative for the Samoan Test was aimed at ensuring the rugby community could welcome the start of the international season in a family-friendly atmosphere.

"Having a Sunday afternoon kick-off for the first time since 2005 is designed to give families a real opportunity to enjoy a day out at a Test match, the first in a World Cup year, he said.

"With just three Tests to be held in Australia before the Rugby World Cup, it is important that grassroots supporters have a chance to see and interact with their heroes."

Samoa have contested the past five Rugby World Cups after missing out on the inaugural event in 1987 when Fiji and Tonga represented the Pacific Islands.

Samoa made the quarter-finals in 1991 and 1995 only to lose to Scotland and South Africa respectively.

Next year, Samoa is in pool D alongside South Africa, Wales, Fiji and Namibia.

The Samoans recently completed a tour of Japan, the UK and Ireland that delivered one win and three narrow losses.

A number of Samoa's players are either current or former Super rugby representatives or boast experience in New Zealand's NPC.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said the match would be a good starting point for what is going to be a massive campaign.

"The Samoans will be building to the Rugby World Cup themselves which will ensure they field a strong side," Deans said.

They are capable - their recent results in the northern hemisphere show that.

"They are in a position to field an experienced group, a lot of who have played in the southern hemisphere and against a lot of our players in Super Rugby so they wont be overawed by the occasion.

"They'll be looking forward to it."

In 2005, the Wallabies powered to a 74-7 win over the Samoans in a game which saw 22-year-olds Rocky Elsom and Stephen Moore make their Test debuts in a Nathan Sharpe-led side.

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