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Jordan Petaia will become Austalia's youngest ever player at a Rugby World Cup after being named on the wing to face Uruguay this weekend.
Injury-prone rising star Jordan Petaia admits he'll watch where he steps and everything he eats as he builds up to his historic appearance for the Wallabies at the Rugby World Cup.
Petaia, 19, will make his long-awaited Test debut and become the youngest Australian to play at a World Cup when they face Uruguay in Oita on Saturday.
Having shaken off his latest ailment, the rising Queensland Reds star has been named on the wing in one of 12 starting personnel changes from the run-on XV that lost 29-25 loss to Wales.
The third youngest Wallaby in Test history and the first to make his debut at the World Cup since Berrick Barnes in 2007, Petaia has already had to overcome the sort of ill-fortune that many veterans would cringe at.
Named for his debut against Italy on last November's tour of Europe, he was scratched late courtesy of a hamstring twinge at practice.
A serious foot injury ruled him out of most of the Queensland Reds' Super Rugby campaign and a likely debut against Samoa a month ago was ruined by more hamstring issues.
"Yeah, obviously I'm just trying to get through the week first, don't want to jinx it," Petaia told journalists in Tokyo on Wednesday.
"Just trying to get to that game on Saturday and see what happens from there."
Regarded as one of the brightest talents in the Australian game, Petaia said he appreciated his chance even more given his drama-filled 12 months.
The quietly-spoken teenager was thankful for the support of his family, who had helped keep him mentally focused when lady luck was doing her worst.
"Basically it's been the whole year for me. It's been a feeling I have got used to but I'm pretty excited to be out of rehab."
Having shone at outside centre throughout his schooling and early outings with the Reds, he was comfortable with being named on the wing to cover the hole created by Reece Hodge's suspension.
Coach Michael Cheika said he didn't consider Petaia a green newcomer given how long he has been in the Australian set-up.
"Look, you wouldn't know that he's a teenager, the way that he carries himself around the team," Cheika said.
"He's intelligent to talk to, understands his rugby, understands the game very well. He loves it too."
Elsewhere, Cheika reverted to Christian Lealiifano in place of Bernard Foley at five-eighth, alongside Nic White in the same halves combination that started in the opening win over Fiji.
All of the players who yet to get field time in Japan have been named.
Starters Petaia, Tevita Kuridrani, Jack Dempsey, Rob Simmons and Folau Faingaa will get their first taste of rugby at the tournament, along with reserve bench prop Taniela Tupou - the only player yet to earn starting selection.
Allan Alaalatoa has been retained at tighthead prop, joining captain Michael Hooper as the only Wallabies to have been named to start all three Tests.
WALLABIES
Kurtley Beale, Dane Haylett-Petty, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Jordan Petaia, Christian Lealiifano, Nic White, Jack Dempsey, Michael Hooper (capt), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Adam Coleman, Rob Simmons, Allan Alaalatoa, Folau Faingaa, James Slipper. Res: Jordan Uelese, Sekope Kepu, Taniela Tupou, Rory Arnold, David Pocock, Will Genia, James O'Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper.