Joe Schmidt is choosing to view the inclusion of rugby league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii for Australia's November international against England as an opportunity rather than a risk.
The inclusion of the 21-year-old former Sydney Roosters player, who signed a lucrative three-year deal to feature for the Waratahs, is the Wallabies' only change from their last fixture with New Zealand back in September.
Head coach Schmidt said the time felt right to give Suaalii, in at centre for the injured Hunter Paisami, his shot at Twickenham on Saturday with the Lions series taking place in 2025.
In quotes reported by BBC Sport, Schmidt said: "The thing that gives me confidence around Joseph is how well he prepares himself.
"He's a very professional young man and hopefully he can hit the ground running in a couple of days’ time.
“Everything's a risk, but I would challenge that with ‘everything's an opportunity’, and it's a fantastic opportunity for a young man who's really excited about getting the chance.
“There are four test matches left this year before we embark on a massive Lions’ tour next year. So if not now, when?
"I think it makes some sense for him to play. It's unlikely it'll go perfectly, but it will be a benchmark that he can build from.”
Australia squad in full:
Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon, Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Max Jorgensen
Starc hails Australia's 'grit and determination' after career-best display
Mitchell Starc praised Australia's "grit and determination" after they skittled India out for 180 on the first day of the day-night second Test in Adelaide.
The left-arm fast bowler produced a career-best 6-48 with the pink ball to make light work of the Indian batting line-up as the hosts asserted control.
Australia then ended the first day on 86-1, just 94 short of India's first innings total, as they look to bounce back from a 295-run defeat in the opening Test in Perth.
The 35-year-old gave Australia the upper hand from the get-go by trapping India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal in front of the stumps in the first ball of the game.
Starc also accounted for the wickets of top-order batters KL Rahul (37) and Virat Kohli (31) before wrapping up the innings with three more in the end, including that of India's top scorer Nitish Kumar Reddy (42).
"It was a good day all round. We were a fraction wide in the first hour but after that we were bang on with the ball," Starc told ABC at the conclusion of play.
"With the pink ball you are never out of the game in terms of it doing something. There might be periods when it doesn't do as much, but then it might start doing things. But not a lot of what I do changes.
His previous best in Test cricket was the 6-50 he took against Sri Lanka at Galle in August 2016. Starc now has 72 wickets in day-night Tests - 29 more than the next-best bowler Nathan Lyon on 43.
Jasprit Bumrah (1-13) sent back Australia opener Usman Khawaja but Nathan McSweeney remains unbeaten on 38, and he will have the company of Marnus Labuschagne, on 20, when the play resumes on day two.
"To get batting on day one and go to stumps with grit and determination was fantastic, in what are the most difficult conditions in pink-ball cricket. If we have a successful first session on day two, we hold the cards," Starc said.
Starc inspires Australia with career-best Test haul
Australia are in control of the second Test against India after Mitchell Starc's career-best showing at the Adelaide Oval.
Paceman Starc took 6-48 as India, who won the toss and elected to bat, were skittled out for just 180 on Friday.
Starc pinned Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw with the very first ball of the day, setting the tone for the onslaught that was to follow from Australia's bowlers.
KL Rahul (37), Virat Kohli (seven), Ravichandran Ashwin (22), Harshit Rana (0) also fell to Starc, who rounded off his six-for, and wrapped up India's innings, with the dismissal of Nitish Kumar Reddy, who top-scored for the tourists with 42.
Jasprit Bumrah (1-13) dismissed Usman Khawaja on 13 in the 11th over of Australia's chase, but Nathan McSweeney knocked off six fours to reach an unbeaten 38 by stumps, with Marnus Labuschagne on 20 not out at the other end.
Australia, who lost by 295 runs in Perth in the first Test, will start day two on 86-1, just 94 shy of India's total.
Data Debrief: Starc's day-night delight
Starc's bowling figures are his best in a single innings in the longest format, surpassing the 6-50 he previously took against Pakistan. The left-arm quick has now taken 72 wickets in day-night Tests, 29 more than the next-best bowler (Nathan Lyon, on 43).
Australia needed a response after that drubbing in the opening match, especially when taking into account that India have won three of their four day-night Tests before this match.
However, their only loss came at the Adelaide Oval, back in December 2020. Australia lost their last day-night Test, against West Indies in January of this year, but before that had won all of their previous 11 such matches, and they are in a commanding position in this one.
England on top in Wellington after scintillating Brook century
Harry Brook smashed an incredible century and Brydon Carse followed up with crucial wickets as England ended day one of their second Test against New Zealand in a commanding position.
England had initially been reduced to 43-4 after batting first and were indebted to Brook, who hit 123 from 115 deliveries to claim his second ton in as many matches.
Brook and Ollie Pope (66) put on a 174-run stand for the fifth wicket to get the tourists' innings back on track.
"I think that might be my favourite hundred so far, I enjoyed that one a lot," a delighted Brook said.
"Most of the balls came out of the middle of the bat and it feels pretty special to be batting like that.
"We were three down when I came in and the pitch was doing quite a bit. It was seaming and swinging, so I'm just glad I put my attacking mode on. I really took it to them and put them under a lot of pressure.
"They had to try and bowl at the stumps early on and I felt like the time to run down was then, cash in when it's full.
"I just tried to take them off their length and stop them bowling on the stumps. The best mode of defence for me was attack and thankfully it came off."
With Zak Crawley (17), who hit a six in the first over, top-scoring within the first four wickets and Chris Woakes (18) after Brook and Pope, it is not an exaggeration to say that England largely owe their score of 280 to two batsmen.
But it was not until the changeover that the value of their partnership came to the fore, with England's bowlers able to claim important wickets to leave New Zealand 86-5 at stumps.
Gus Atkinson, Ben Stokes and Woakes all claimed one wicket each, with Carse taking 2-28.
Kane Williamson (37) had survived a caught behind review and being balled off a no-ball from Carse before the fast bowler finally got his man.
Carse had a hand in the final three wickets of the day, having executed a diving catch to get Rachin Ravindra, before Williamson and Daryl Mitchell were both caught off his deliveries.
Data debrief: Brook and Carse get England on top
Brook's century in Wellington was the eighth of his career and second in as many Tests.
He got to 100 in just 91 balls, while his fifth-wicket stand with Pope also came at more than one run per ball. Carse, meanwhile, contributed to a period in which New Zealand lost four wickets for just 27 runs.
The Black Caps are aiming for a sixth Test win of 2024, which would be the most victories they have recorded in a single calendar year, but they have plenty of work to do if they are to achieve that feat.
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