Flanker Rocky Elsom has been included in Australia's squad for Saturday's Tri-Nations clash with South Africa in Durban after recovering from a foot injury.
Elsom strained foot ligaments in Australia's record victory over New Zealand in Sydney last month and has been forced to wear protective footwear since.
Coach Robbie Deans had been doubtful the 25-year-old would recover in time to play the Springboks, but in what team-mate Stephen Moore has described as a 'Lazarus-like' effort, Elsom has been selected at number six.
Elsom's return from injury has coincided with James Horvill maintaining his place in the squad at lock despite also struggling with a similar foot complaint following the Wallabies' loss to the All Blacks in Auckland.
Along with Elsom's inclusion, Drew Mitchell has been selected at full-back while Sam Cordingley will line up at half-back in three of five personnel changes to the Australian combination.
Mitchell and Cordingley take the places of the injured Adam Ashley-Cooper and Luke Burgess respectively.
The other changes to the Australian starting XV from the last game of the series sees Daniel Vickerman resume his starting position in the second-row, having come from the bench in his two Test outings of the season to date.
Tight-head prop Matt Dunning is also restored to the starting XV for the first time since the opening international of the year against Ireland. He swaps places with Al Baxter, who drops to a place among the reserves.
The starting side features four changes from the combination which eclipsed South Africa 16-9 in the Wallabies' opening match of the 2008 Tri-Nations series in Perth.
Brett Sheehan is promoted to the match-day squad for the first time this year following Cordingley's elevation into the starting line-up, being joined by Timana Tahu and Ryan Cross among the back replacements.
Deans said he has been happy with his team's preparation through the week as they head towards the Durban match, although he is wary of a Springboks side that was humiliated at home by the All Blacks last weekend in a 19-0 result.
'Training has gone well, and we're looking forward to the opportunity we have in front of us,' Deans said from the team's training base in Cape Town.
While the Wallabies' recent run of outs in South Africa has been repeatedly highlighted in the lead-up to the current team's visit, Deans is only looking forward.
'It (the record) highlights the extent of the opportunity that we, as a team, have in front of us to achieve something significant, and that's exciting,' Deans said.
'But as far as its relevance is concerned in the preparations for Saturday's game, it doesn't really have any. We're focusing totally on what is in front of us. The history, be it good or bad, isn't a factor once the game kicks off.'
The Wallabies will wear black arm-bands during the match as a mark of respect for former Australian representatives Roy Prosser and Malcolm van Gelder, who both passed away prior to the team's departure for South Africa.
AUSTRALIA v South Africa Tri-Nations clash in Durban, Saturday 23 August at 2.05pm:
D Mitchell, P Hynes, S Mortlock (capt), B Barnes, L Tuqiri, M Giteau, S Cordingley; W Palu, G Smith, R Elsom, D Vickerman, J Horwill, M Dunning, S Moore, B Robinson.
Replacements: T Polota-Nau, A Baxter, H McMeniman, P Waugh, B Sheehan, T Tahu, R Cross.
