Western Force coach Michael Foley believes the versatility and aggression of forward Hugh McMeniman would prove to be a huge asset for the Wallabies in their upcoming series against the British and Irish Lions.

McMeniman will make a last-ditch bid to earn Wallabies selection when he makes his long-awaited return in Sunday’s Super Rugby clash with the Waratahs in Perth.

The 29-year-old hasn’t played since fracturing his shoulder in the Force’s round-eight loss to the Rebels nine weeks ago.

McMeniman was one of the competition’s form players at the time, and was considered a lock-in for Wallabies selection.

But his lengthy injury absence means he’ll need to impress against the Waratahs if he is to be among the list of six players to be added to the Wallabies squad next week.

McMeniman, who played the last of his 21 Tests in 2008 before heading to Japan, is equally adept at either lock or blindside flanker, giving any team he plays for vital flexibility.

But it’s his aggression that makes him stand out from the rest.

“He’s extremely keen to compete. When Hugh runs onto the field, he wants to run onto the field faster than the guy he’s playing against,” Foley said of the man nicknamed ‘Madness’.

“Every little moment of every game is a contest, and Hugh wants to win every contest.

“Having a person like that in your team is actually quite contagious. Seeing somebody do those sort of things lifts everyone else.”

The Force’s squad against the Waratahs is much stronger than the outfit which copped a 69-17 thumping at the hands of the Lions on Wednesday night.

McMeniman will start in the No.6 guernsey, while the Force also welcome back centre Kyle Godwin, winger Patrick Dellit, fullback Jayden Hayward, flyhalf Sias Ebersohn, flanker Chris Alcock, lock Sam Wykes and prop Pek Cowan.

In contrast, the Waratahs were forced to draft in a host of club players in order to fill their squad this week.

With 10 players on Wallabies duties and a further six injured, lock Ollie Atkins will make his Waratahs debut, while fellow forwards Will Skelton, Lopeti Timani and Jed Holloway have been named to make their first starts of the season.

The eighth-placed Waratahs will need to win their remaining two games and rely on a host of other results to go their way if they are to sneak in for a finals berth.