Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says one or two of the seven uncapped players in his squad could find themselves pitched into the first Bledisloe Cup Test.
Cheika continued his rebuild after the 2015 World Cup campaign by choosing four new backs and three forwards in his 34-man squad.
Former NRL star Curtis Rona and his Western Force centre partner Billy Meakes each earned a first callup,.
The other uncapped backs were Reds youngster Izaia Perese and the Rebels former NRL winger Marika Koroibete, who was included in the squads for last year’s Spring tour and the recent June Tests, but didn’t get a cap.
The bolter in the forwards was Rebels hooker Jordan Uelese, while the Reds supplied the other two uncapped forwards in lock Izack Rodda and back rower Adam Korczyk.
Cheika made it clear he would consider injecting some of that new blood into the August 19 clash with the world champion All Blacks in Sydney.
“There’s a good chance you going to see one or two of them for sure,” Cheika said.
“Since season 2016 we’ve started turning the list around and I feel like we’re in the right space with that now.
“We’ve got a new leadership team in, we’ve got still a few players to come back and join us as we go forward on the journey over the next couple of years.”
Brumbies captain and second-rower Sam Carter was the main omission, but there were recalls for 2015 World Cup final starting locks Rob Simmons and Kane Douglas, who were both overlooked from the June Tests squad.
With 21 members of the squad having played 17 or fewer Tests, Cheika opted to appoint veteran halves Will Genia and Bernard Foley as the new vice-captains.
“‘I wanted to have guys who have got a bit of experience there, at this point, just in Test matches as well,” Cheika said.
“Because we’ve got as you can see a relatively young squad and still a lot of single digit cap players.
Wallabies squad: Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Jack Dempsey, Kane Douglas, Tetera Faulkner, Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper (capt), Sekope Kepu, Adam Korczyk, Sean McMahon, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Izack Rodda, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Lopeti Timani, Jordan Uelese. Backs: Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Tevita Kuridrani, Billy Meakes, Izaia Perese Nick Phipps, Joe Powell, Curtis Rona, Henry Speight.