Enforcer Wycliff Palu will make his long-awaited return for the Wallabies in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium.

Palu takes over at No.8 from Radike Samo while Adam Ashley-Cooper returns to replace injured winger Digby Ioane among four changes to the starting team from Australia’s last-start win over Argentina in Rosario 11 days ago.

Palu missed all six of the Wallabies’ Tests in the just-completed Rugby Championship after suffering a shoulder nerve injury in the penultimate game of the NSW Waratahs’ season.

Scott Higginbotham takes over the blindside flanker role after impressing off the bench against the Pumas while Sitaleki Timani goes to the second row in place of the benched Kane Douglas.

In the front row, Benn Robinson returns at loosehead prop, relegating James Slipper to the bench.

Winger Drew Mitchell returns on the bench after making a swifter-than-expected recovery from an ankle injury sustained playing against the All Blacks in Auckland.

Mike Harris retains both the fullback position and the goal-kicking duties after booting seven from eight attempts in Rosario.

Ben Tapuai retains the outside centre role after thriving in the Argentina Test, forcing Ashley-Cooper to come back via the wing after missing that Test following a head knock suffered in the loss to South Africa in Pretoria.

Team: Mike Harris, Nick Cummins, Ben Tapuai, Pat McCabe, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Scott Higginbotham, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Sitaleki Timani, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Liam Gill, Brett Sheehan, Drew Mitchell.