Last week’s bruising encounter has seen Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt make several changes to the side, with the biggest being Nic White named to start in his final Test ever in gold.
The match will also see Taniela Tupou make his return to the side, with Tom Hooper and Dylan Pietsch completing the changes to last week’s outfit.
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The result sees Allan Alaalatoa, Rob Valetini and Carlo Tizzano all out, with Jake Gordon rotated out of the side after two starts.
“I'm not quite sure of the answer other than to say he's not right this week,” Schmidt said of Valetini.
“It is the same injury, it just tightened up. It was precautionary bringing him off and it's probably precautionary not playing him this weekend, just because we don't want to cause more damage when we have a big test schedule coming up.
“He's had a really tough week, obviously, Carlo. He's copped a lot of online abuse. The only thing I'd say about Carlo, there were just over 54Gs of direct force that went through the neck along, with almost 2200 rads of rotational force - which is enough to cause serious injury.
“When that force hits him and the speed of his head collapsing down, he recoiled out the back of the rack and I don't think he wanted to recoil like that but that's the nature of force, that there's an equal and opposite reaction.
“I think for Carlo it's better that he sits this one out. We weren't sure about him on Tuesday, he was still pretty sore, but he was great today.”
Schmidt has backed the return of Tupou to the side following a strong showing for the First Nations Pasifika XV, and believes the 59-capped Wallaby is close to regaining his previous form.
“I thought he really worked hard there, he's trained well,” Schmidt elaborated.
“We're hopeful that Taniela can continue that upswing and bring us a real burst of energy. One of the reasons we've made a few changes is that when everyone's as flat as they were, just bringing a few newer guys in freshens things up and those guys know it's an opportunity for them.
“It's just a way to shift the malaise that continued for the 48 hours post-game to try to get that upswing.
“Even watching him at training today, he is dynamic. His ability to move his feet and generate force is impressive. We'd love to see that and Saturday will be a first step back toward that I'm hoping.
“The First Nations Pasifika was a good example of that, where he looked dynamic. He got a bit of line speed defensively, he looked like he was very keen at scrum time and carrying the ball, so there are a couple of things that we'll need from him.”
Schmidt is optimistic that Alaalatoa and Valetini will be back for the Rugby Championship when the squad heads to South Africa.
The wing is expected to be well covered by Pietsch, after his encouraging performance early on in the series for the Force. At the same time, Tom Hooper also impressed for the Brumbies against the Lions, and for the Wallabies against Fiji.
Schmidt has opted to revert back to a 5-3 bench, with Zane Nonggorr making his first start of the series in place of Tom Robertson the only change to the forward reserves while Andrew Kellaway comes onto the bench as a utility option.
The Lions have made a few small changes to their side as they look to sweep a series for the first time since 1904.
“I'd be full of praise for the way that they [the Lions] have worked their way through this tour, to be unbeaten so far and the way they worked their way back into that game at 23-5 down,” Schmidt said of his opposition.
“The experience they have, the quality, the depth, I think it was to the forefront. We've got to be better than allowing them to get as close as they did before they finally finished it off.
“My belief is that 18 months ago, no one gave us a chance of challenging the Lions.
“I think in total it's three tries apiece [first game] and five tries to three [second] - not nearly as much between the teams as maybe people might have expected.”
WALLABIES (15-1): Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch; Tom Lynagh, Nic White; Harry Wilson (capt), Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper; Will Skelton, Nick Frost; Taniela Tupou, David Porecki, James Slipper
Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway.
