The team will be unveiled on Thursday but the 33-year-old lock is a confirmed starter in the Test line-up 10 years after he was called into the Australian squad without earning a cap.
Back in 2012, Neville was a raw rookie with only three years rugby under his belt, having taken up the sport after a previous sporting career as an elite rower.
He was in his first year playing for the Melbourne Rebels - his first of three Australian Super Rugby sides - when he was drafted into the Wallabies squad to travel to Argentina and then later on a Spring UK tour but never made it into a match-day 23.
But after shifting to Queensland, a stint in Japan, and then the Brumbies in 2020, Neville has finally been rewarded for his years of toil, becoming the oldest to play a maiden Test in 23 years.
Neville forced his way into the reckoning after helping steer the Brumbies into the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals this season.
Standing 202cm and weighing 120kg, Neville will bring some grunt to the set piece where England will mount a formidable battle.
He's likely to have plenty of company from his Brumbies teammates in the Wallabies forward pack for the Optus Stadium clash with Rob Valetini, Nick Frost and Allan Ala'alatoa among those in the mix.
Japan-based trio Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete, who each missed the end-of-season Spring Tour where the Wallabies lost all three Tests, are also set to be named in the starting side.
Cooper is likely to pip rivals James O'Connor and Noah Lolesio to wear the No.10 jersey, having led the Wallabies to five straight wins last year after a four-year absence from the Test squad.
England will also name their squad late on Thursday and also their captain with Owen Farrell favoured to get the nod.