The Wallabies backline is set for a shake-up for the rematch against Japan in Townsville, with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii ruled out with another hamstring injury and Carter Gordon poised to return at five-eighth.

The backline shuffle comes as the likelihood of the Wallabies naming the 1000th player also firms, with young Queensland prop Massimo De Lutiis set to win a spot against the Brave Blossoms.

Suaalii was scratched from the clash at Queensland Country Bank Stadium after picking up a “minor” hamstring injury in the Wallabies’ three-point win in Osaka at the weekend.

His injury was revealed in a release by the Wallabies on Tuesday night and is the latest in a series of hamstring injuries for the big-money recruit, who played six games for the Waratahs this year due to hamstring complaints.

Josh Flook has joined the squad as cover and will immediately come into contention to play a role in the Test in Townsville. With Len Ikitau (ankle) also injured, Hunter Paisami wore the No.12 in Japan and Isaac Henry debuted off the bench at outside centre, pushing Suaalii to the wing.

Gordon is set for a recall to the starting No.10 jersey, replacing Declan Meredith, who had an unhappy night in the win in Osaka. Gordon started against Ireland in July before picking up a calf injury and missing the Tests against France and Italy.

When Ben Donaldson was also ruled out for the France Test, Meredith was given a debut and he held the spot through to the Japan Test, but his form waned and Gordon is fit and ready to return.

Wallabies coach Les Kiss flagged changes for the second Test against Japan after the win in Osaka, saying he expected some players to be impacted by the sapping 30 degree heat.

It is in this context that De Lutiis is set to make his Test debut and become Wallaby No.1000, with tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa expected to be rested ahead of the upcoming Argentina tour.

Taniela Tupou, who has been coming off the bench, is set to start at tighthead. De Lutiis would also come off the bench.

Rugby Australia and Queensland successfully fended off the attention of Ireland earlier this year to re-sign De Lutiis, who is a hulking tighthead prop.

Backrower Tom Hooper is also expected to return after overcoming a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the last three Tests.

Meanwhile, the Wallaroos have a new head coach after Rugby Australia announced the appointment of Sione Fukofuka through to the end of the home Rugby World Cup in 2029.

But Fukofuka won’t be starting until the beginning of 2027, as part of a contract wrangle with the Scottish Rugby Union.

The 47-year-old is an experienced coach who served as Wallaroos assistant coach for three years from 2021, and then served as head coach of the USA Women’s side in 2024-25.

Fukofuka subsequently moved to Scotland as their women’s head coach, but two weeks ago it was announced he would be returning to Australia on compassionate grounds, due to family reasons.

It was a stroke of fortune for Rugby Australia, who have been without a Wallaroos head coach since Jo Yapp departed last year and had recently had their drawn-out coaching recruitment process hit a further snag when leading candidate Canadian coach Kevin Roeut backed out of a potential deal.

Fukofuka immediately became the new target but under the terms of his SRU contract exit, he will not be available until the start of 2027.

An interim coaching team of Waratahs head coach Mike Ruthven, Duncan Chubb, Ben Mowen, Reg Tayler and Rugby Australia’s director of women’s high performance Tim Walsh is set to coach the team for the seven Tests remaining this year.

“I would like to express my gratitude to Scottish Rugby for their understanding of my family situation and desire to return home to Australia,” Fukofuka said in a statement.

“Although a difficult decision to leave the Scottish role, this opportunity allows me to be in Sydney closer to my family. I wish the players and staff all the best for the future.

Australia Sevens star Maddison Levi is in line for a possible Wallaroos debut after being included in the Test squad for the upcoming 100th international against New Zealand in Auckland on August 22.

Levi is one of four uncapped players named in a new-look squad that also features NSW Waratahs player of the year Amelia Whitaker, Queensland Reds captain Jemma Bemrose and Western Force forward Pia Tapsell.

Wallaroos squad

Jemma Bemrose, Lily Bone, Emily Chancellor, Piper Duck, Waiaria Ellis, Martha Fua, Caitlyn Halse, Tia Hinds, Brianna Hoy, Eva Karpani, Kaitlan Leaney, Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, Michaela Leonard, Maddison Levi, Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke, Brittany Merlo, Desiree Miller, Faitala Moleka, Tania Naden, Leilani Nathan, Bridie O’Gorman, Siokapesi Palu Sekona, Allana Sikimeti, Piper Simons, Cecilia Smith, Maya Stewart, Pia Tapsell, Bienne Terita, Amelia Whitaker, Samantha Wood