Qantas Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has been forced to reshuffle his backline ahead of Saturday afternoon's clash with Japan in Yokohama.
Bernard Foley (illness), Karmichael Hunt (neck) and Will Genia (calf) have all been sidelined for the historic clash against the Cherry Blossoms, in what is Australia’s first clash against Japan on Japanese soil.
Hunt injured his neck in the Wallabies final training session on home soil on Tuesday, and the injury was aggravated further on the nine hour red-eye flight to Tokyo on Tuesday evening.
Genia suffered a minor calf injury in the Wallabies win over New Zealand in Brisbane and is set resume full training next week ahead of the clash against Wales in Cardiff.
St.George Queensland Reds centre Samu Kerevi returns to the starting side at inside centre after coming off the bench in the Wallabies Bledisloe Cup win two weeks ago.
Nick Phipps and Reece Hodge will start in the halves while Kurtley Beale has shifted to fullback with Kerevi to join Tevita Kuridrani in a powerhouse centre combination.
Phipps and Beale will also act as deputies for Michael Hooper in the absence of Genia and Foley.
Meanwhile lock Matt Philip is set to make his debut after being named on the bench, and in doing so will become Wallaby 915 and the Wallabies 25th debutant since the 2015 World Cup Final.
Saturday afternoon’s clash will also mark a special milestone for backrower Ben McCalman, who is set to earn his 50th cap more than a year since he last ran out in a Wallabies jersey (v NZ, August 2015).
Joe Powell and Curtis Rona round out the six-two split on the bench, as both aim to add to their two Test caps.
The Japan clash will be screened LIVE in High Definition and ad-break free during play on FOX SPORTS and will be available to stream via Foxtel Go (for Foxtel subscribers).
Qantas Wallabies side to face Japan
1. Scott Sio (39 Tests)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (78 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (87 Tests)
4. Rob Simmons (78 Tests)
5. Adam Coleman (18 Tests)
6. Ned Hanigan (9 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (c) (75 Tests)
8. Sean McMahon (22 Tests)
9. Nick Phipps (vc) (58 Tests)
10. Reece Hodge (20 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (4 Tests)12. Samu Kerevi (14 Tests)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (54 Tests)
14. Henry Speight (17 Tests)
15. Kurtley Beale (vc) (67 Tests)
Reserves
16. Stephen Moore (125 Tests)
17. Tom Robertson (15 Tests)
18. Allan Alaalatoa (19 Tests)
19. Matt Philip*
20. Ben McCalman (49 Tests)
21. Lopeti Timani (9 Tests)
22. Joe Powell (2 Tests)
23. Curtis Rona (2 Tests)*denotes uncapped
