The Wallabies' rotten run with injury to start the Test season has continued, with outside back Andrew Kellaway ruled out of the second Test. But that has opened the door for Dave Rennie to at last put one of his big plans into action, the shifting of Jordan Petaia to fullback.
The Queensland Reds star will on Thursday be named in the No. 15 jersey in one of at least four changes to the starting side that won the opening Test 30-28 over England in Perth. With Tom Banks, Allan Alaalatoa and Darcy Swain also sidelined, the Wallabies will take on a different look in Brisbane.
Petaia's ascension to the fullback role, three years after he was first blooded as a winger and outside centre at the Rugby World Cup in Japan, comes after he was given a handful of opportunities for the Reds in the 15 jersey this year.
His ability under the high ball and improving kicking game will likely be put under the microscope by England at Suncorp Stadium, after the tourists attacked the Wallabies' back three with the towering Freddie Steward in Perth.
Kellaway had been slated to step in for Banks this week after impressing following his positional switch midway through the first half in Perth, only for the Rebels back to then injure his hamstring at training on the Gold Coast this week.
The vacant spot on the right wing is expected to go to either Tom Wright or uncapped code-hopper Suliasi Vunivalu.
Taniela Tupou, who has been out with a calf injury since early May, is expected to return to the Wallabies 23, possibly via the bench, with James Slipper an option to start at tighthead in place of Alaalatoa.
Matt Philip is likely to move from the bench to start in place of Swain, who was on Tuesday handed a two-week suspension for a head butt in Perth, and with Jed Holloway still under an injury cloud the door may be open for Brumbies youngster Nick Frost to earn a Test debut off the bench.
The Wallabies can wrap up the three-Test series with a win in Brisbane, which would see them claim the inaugural Ella-Mobbs Cup. If England can bounce back from their defeat in Perth, the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground will then serve as the decider.
Australia will wear their Indigenous jersey in Brisbane while the national anthem will also be sung in the local Yugambeh language.