Rising Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby star Jack Maddocks says he'll make the most of his time on the wing as he waits for a crack at the No.10 jersey.
The 20-year-old has been earmarked by Wallabies assistant coach Stephen Larkham as the next Test playmaker, but Jack Debrecezeni has the jump on him at the Rebels, named there for Saturday's clash with the Sunwolves in Tokyo.
With Melbourne naming an unchanged side, Maddocks holds his wing position. He played there in the 45-19 opening win over Queensland and said, while it wasn't his first choice, he was warming to the role.
With his prodigious talent, coach Dave Wessels wants him in the line-up out of position than not at all.
"I never played there growing up and I don't really want to play there long term but, running off a forward pack and backline like we have, it's not the worst gig in the world," Maddocks said from Tokyo.
"I've got a fair bit of freedom to work in off my wing and get involved."
Maddocks, however, acknowledged he was likely to make way next week for returning Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete from a knee injury.
A talented junior cricketer, still with ambitions of playing in the Big Bash League, Maddocks was a development player on the Wallabies' spring tour despite only having six Rebels caps at fullback.
There, Larkham - a former Wallabies five-eighth - told him he had the attributes to play No.10, where Australia had a dearth of players behind Bernard Foley, and he spent the tour training there.
"Long term, that's my ambition and I'm certainly doing a lot of work there at training, even if I'm on the wing," Maddocks said.
"It was the only position I played growing up but I was a lot smaller and slower and, as I got bigger and faster, I moved to fullback.
"I always wanted to move back to 10 because I thought, if I could combine my old game with the physical attributes I have now, there's no reason why I couldn't be a good 10."
Maddocks said the Rebels used a team meeting to address any complacency against the Sunwolves, who had bolstered their side with Test players and had Japan coach Jamie Joseph calling the shots.
"The Sunwolves haven't traditionally been that strong but we watched their game last week and they nearly knocked over the Brumbies, who beat us easily in the trial, so we're definitely not being complacent," he said.
While their starting line-up remains intact, former England international lock Geoff Parling and flanker Colby Fainga'a have been selected on the bench.
REBELS:
Dane Haylett-Petty, Jack Maddocks, Tom English, Reece Hodge, Sefa Naivalu, Jack Debreczeni, Will Genia, Amanaki Mafi, Angus Cottrell, Lopeti Timani, Adam Coleman (capt), Matt Philip, Jermaine Ainsley, Jordan Uelese, Tetera Faulkner.
Res: Anaru Rangi, Fereti Sa'aga, Sam Talakai, Geoff Parling, Ross Haylett-Petty, Colby Fainga'a, Michael Ruru, Billy Meakes.
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