Georgia have gone to record-breaking lengths to inject youth into their team for their Rugby World Cup opener against Tonga on Saturday.

Vasil Lobzhanidze will become the youngest player to represent any nation at World Rugby's showpiece at age 18, after being named in the starting line-up by coach Milton Haig.

American Thretton Palamo had recently turned 19 when he played against the Springboks at the 2007 World Cup, but Lobzhanidze will claim the crown when he runs out for Georgia at Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester.

"Yes I am very happy to be the youngest player in the history of the Rugby World Cup," Lobzhanidze told reporters.

"I am a little bit nervous, but we have a team with a lot of experience so this makes me less nervous for when I get out on the field."

Lobzhanidze was just 14 when Georgia embarked on their 2011 campaign in New Zealand, and said he has few recollections of their one-win tournament.

"I was very young, so I almost don't remember the last World Cup," the half-back said.

"I started playing rugby in Tbilisi when I was 11 years old in one of the clubs, Armazi Tbilisi, which is a club that plays in the top division in Georgia, and that is where I still play today."

Hooker Shalva Mamukashvili said Georgia were lacking nothing in off-field assets heading into their crucial Pool B opener.

"We've been preparing for four years for this World Cup, we're going step-by-step," Mamukashvili told Omnisport. 

"Milton is a pure character of rugby, coaches, conditioners, doctors, we've been going step-by-step for these four years. 

"We'll be in really good shape when we start the World Cup against Tonga."

Tonga flanker Sione Kalamafoni has home-ground advantage on his side, having plied his club trade with Gloucester since 2012.

Telusa Veainu has been named on a wing for Mana Otai's men, set to represent his second country at a showpiece event - having starred for New Zealand at the Under-20 World Championship in Argentina in 2010.

Veainu debuted for Tonga at the Pacific Nations Cup, a tournament they went on to finish third in - the Melbourne Rebels man scoring a try in his first cap.

Openside flanker Nili Latu captains the Tongans.

Tonga and Georgia have met three times at Test level, the former holding a 2-1 head-to-head lead after a 23-9 win in November.