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Only the top 10 Republican presidential candidates in the polls will be invited to the first debate on Thursday in Cleveland. Pictured: Eleven of the declared 2016 Republican U.S. presidential candidates, including (left to right) former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Dr. Ben Carson, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former New York Gov. George Pataki, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, stand together onstage before the start of the Voters First Presidential Forum in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Aug. 3, 2015. REUTERS

Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will take the stage Thursday -- leaving behind Texas Gov. Rick Perry, relegated to the 5:00 p.m. debate for those who didn't make the top tier.

Kasich and Christie grabbed the last two spots for the GOP debate, Fox News announced Tuesday evening. The two will go head-to-head with real estate mogul Donald Trump; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker; retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; Texas Sen. Ted Cruz; Florida Sen. Marco Rubio; and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.

The 10-candidate roster was based on five recent national polls of Fox News' choosing. Only 10 of the 17 Republican candidates were chosen.

The debate will air 9 p.m. EST Thursday in Cleveland and will be broadcast by Fox.

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