Both players were stars of the Roos team which defeated Orange Emus on Saturday and their form in local and representative rugby has seen them rewarded with a place in the Eagles setup.

The Eagles development squad, to be coached by Central West Blue Bulls coach Matt McRobert, will go up against the Australian Barbarians as a curtain-raiser to the National Rugby Championship (NRC) match between the Eagles and the Melbourne Rising.

"I'm pleased to see them recognised at another level and I'm pleased personally for the chance to work with them again," McRobert said of the Dubbo pair.

"I've seen a fair bit of them over the past three seasons and Pete (Nau) has been a real standout for Dubbo, the Central West and the NSW Cockatoos and this recognition is great for him and the same goes for Filise (Pauta), he was the Player of the Carnival this year for the Country Cockatoos and played so well.

"From my perspective, working with them both at the Blue Bulls I learnt a lot from watching them train and play, they play hard and put their bodies on the line but at the end of the day they enjoy their rugby too and that's a lesson we want to pass on to young players."

Parkes trio Mahe Fangupo, Amoni Vea and Dan Ryan will join Nau and Pauta as the five central west-based players in the squad, which will also feature five players from the Eagles top squad as well as younger representative players from the Eagles' Shute Shield feeder clubs, Eastern Suburbs and Randwick.

Players with experience from Shute Shield level and higher are expected to be part of the Barbarians squad, which will pose a huge challenge for McRobert's side.

Country Eagles general manager James Grant said the players in the Eagles development squad will be closely watched by coaching staff from the Eagles' senior side with planning already being made for next season's squads.

"It was a big ask for players from the country to make this year's Eagles squad but it's all about giving them an opportunity to go further," he said.

"It's a good stepping stone and an opportunity for these guys to get closer to play in the NRC."