Wallabies utility back Matt Toomua admits Michael Cheika faces some difficult decisions before Saturday's crucial Test against Italy in Padua.
Toomua, who came off the bench late in the game against Wales, is in line to start at five-eighth against the team ranked 14th in the world.
The 28-year-old, who is contracted to English side Leicester, where he'll stay until joining Melbourne Rebels in June, acknowledged the mood in the camp has been low after the 9-6 loss in Cardiff.
Cheika was intending to field a largely second-string side against the Azzurri but, with the team struggling with confidence, he is pondering whether to make wholesale changes.
Australia first played Italy in 1983 and have won all 17 previous encounters between the two nations.
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But defeat in the quaint north-eastern Italian city, one of the few areas in a soccer-dominated country where rugby has a presence, would be unthinkable for a Wallabies team that have won just three of their past 13 matches.
"We've got to win, don't we?" Toomua said.
"We've got to give respect to Italy as a team who we know can upset a lot of teams.
"But we struggled against them a few years ago back in Australia, so I don't think going out with wholesale changes would be the smartest tactic.
"But I think at the same time, it'll be a balance.
"We've lost a few on the trot now and we need to win."
Last Saturday's anaemic attacking display in Cardiff was the first time since losing to England 12 months ago that the team have failed to reach double figures.
With a Twickenham meeting against Eddie Jones's side after Italy, Toomua said players not in the frame in Cardiff are now pushing hard for selection to give themselves a chance to play in the biggest game of the tour.
"There might be selections that are enforced because of form rather than just giving guys a go," he said.
"It'll be imperative that we win the (Italy) game and win well and get some momentum going into England.
"'Cheik' might have a bigger picture view in terms of a few guys here and there but I think after particularly what happened on the weekend, we've got to get a win.
"How we do that is up to the boss."
Cheika and the players continue to maintain they are not far away from a complete performance and Toomua said there was still belief in the methods of the coaches.
"If you look at England, they won 16 or something on the trot and then they all of a sudden lose a lot on the trot as well," he said.
"I think at this level, it's such fine margins. You need momentum, you need confidence, you need belief and that comes from performances.
"So, it's fair to say we probably need to build some momentum, whether it be in defence or attack.
"I don't want to just say that's important this week because we're playing Italy.
"It starts every week but this one being the most pressing game.
"We need to get some momentum, we need to get a win."
