Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie’s giving nothing away, Quade Cooper is keeping the secret and Israel Folau says it won’t be him – so who’ll be Cooper’s defensive stuntman against the rampaging Springboks?

McKenzie’s exciting two-prong attacking selection of Cooper at five-eighth and Folau at fullback for Saturday night’s clash has left a big question mark over the Wallabies’ defence at Suncorp Stadium.

South Africa have their own ideas who will tackle in the No.10 channel and it could prove to be an ironic choice if proven correct.

Cooper rarely takes on the big boppers by defending in the front line for Australia or the Queensland Reds, instead dropping back to fullback to orchestrate kick-returns.

But with Folau selected there to be more involved and counter South Africa’s kicking game, the mercurial playmaker won’t be swapping with the No.15 like normal.

“No, it definitely won’t be me,” Folau said.

That’s as much information as the Wallabies camp is giving away about their five-eighth defence.

“You’ll see on the night,” McKenzie said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Cooper was equally guarded about whether he’d have to muscle up like he did for five Reds games last year.

“You can’t give all your secrets away,” he said. “You have to keep something for the game.”

Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer admitted it was an “interesting” quandary for Australia, but expected both Folau and Cooper to combine at the back.

That would see another player shifted to do the dirty work in stopping the big Bok forwards and skipper Jean de Villiers in the No.10 channel.

South African suspicions are that James O’Connor, controversially given the five-eighth role by Robbie Deans ahead of Cooper for the unsuccessful Lions series, will be moved off the wing.

“We’re not too sure what to expect,” said halfback Ruan Pienaar. “O’Connor played there this season for the Melbourne Rebels so he might slot in there.”