Taniela Tupou won't face Fiji after being pulled from the Wallabies camp on Monday morning by Joe Schmidt for an early test against the British & Irish Lions in Waratah colours.
The NSW Waratahs will benefit from the 58-Test prop's presence on Saturday in Sydney, the second Lions fixture of the week following their clash with the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
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The off-contract Tupou, reportedly set for a club move to France, did not hit his straps for the Waratahs this season but at his best would be a crucial piece of the Wallabies' pack to take on the Lions.
He'll get his chance to make an early statement on Saturday before Schmidt refines his squad for the three-Test Lions series, beginning in Brisbane on July 19.
The move to get game time against the Lions will likely come as positive news for the prop, having admitted that he's been disappointed with his own form so far in 2025.
Schmidt confirmed last week he has been in routine conversations with Tupou about his form - having included nim in the wider Wallabies squad to face Fiji.
Allan Alaalatoa and Angus Bell also confirmed the wider squad desperately wants to see Tupou hit his strides again.
"You go through the whole rehab process and you do all the physical tests and you know it's good, but then you saw those mental battles when you're going back into the scrum and playing under fatigue," Alaalatoa explained to reporters following the Wallabies selection last week.
"Then it's the game after game after game, and you get put in different scenarios into similar pictures in how you did it in the first place. There's plenty of mental barriers there.
"We all know the value that he brings when he's at his best, but I think more so when he's happy. I think the coaches have a lot of faith in him.
"In terms of someone, for myself, who's a close mate of his, it's also a part of our job to make sure that he's enjoying the environment: that he's happy, and that we can help try and bring the best out of his preparation and then hopefully into a game.
"I'd love to see Big ‘Nel at his best because I know that he will contribute massively to the jersey."
"We know how important Taniela is for Australian rugby. If we're going to compete and beat the Lions, Taniela will be in and around the team and the squad," Bell said.
"We know how important he is and what he can do when he's in his career-best form.
"He's working really hard at NSW and he's working really hard at camps to get himself there, and we believe in Taniela - he's a mate, he's a freak of nature and we all know that.
"So, look, he's happy and he's looking forward to the Tests and he's as excited as everyone else in Australian rugby. It's a pretty cool time and 'Nela' will be awesome this year, I reckon."
Tupou will head back down to Sydney on Monday, joining the Waratahs for their final preparations against the Lions, who they will face on Saturday after playing the Queensland Reds on Wednesday.
Australia play Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday.
