In yet another back-row selection shock, Waratahs hardman Lachie Swinton is set to make his debut against the All Blacks in the final Bledisloe Test of the year on Saturday in Brisbane.
It's understood the 23-year-old from Knox Grammar on Sydney's North Shore line will replace his Waratahs teammate at blindside flanker, with Ned Hanigan expected to drop back to the bench.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie is expected to make a number of changes from the side that suffered a record trans-Tasman loss last weekend at the Olympic stadium.
One of those changes is thought to be in the second-row, with veteran lock Rob Simmons likely to come in for Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who is expected to be ruled out the match after coming off early in the second-half of the 43-5 drubbing.
Hanigan will likely provide cover for the second-row and in the back-row, which will allow Rennie to include another loose-forward.
Elsewhere, a number of backline changes are expected to be made across the board including the return of James O'Connor at fly-half.
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Swinton is the latest back-rower to be given a run.
Rennie has given opportunities to loose-forwards Pete Samu, who started in the first Test, Hanigan, who started in the recent two Tests, as well as Rob Valetini, Liam Wright and Fraser McReight off the bench, but only the latter has taken the chance with both hands.
The Wallabies haven't been able to find a No.6 ever since the departure of Scott Fardy to Ireland.
Michael Cheika and now Rennie have sought to find an explosive and powerful blindside flanker in the Jerome Kaino mould for years, but have been left underwhelmed.
Rennie is expected to announce his Wallabies side around noon on Thursday.
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