Wallabies rookie Izack Rodda has been ruled out for the rest of the year after opting for surgery on his injured shoulder.
The decision will ensure the 21-year-old lock, who has started in Australia's last two Test outings, is fit in time for the new Super Rugby campaign.
It opens up an opportunity for the likes of Rob Simmons, Lukhan Tui or Rory Arnold to start in Saturday's third Bledisloe Cup Test at Suncorp Stadium.
Rodda only made his debut for the Queensland Reds in the opening round of this season but made an instant impression.
He was quickly called up by Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who handed him a Test debut off the bench in Australia's narrow defeat to New Zealand in Dunedin.
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Reds and Wallabies teammate Karmichael Hunt, who has had more than his fair share of injury problems, said taking the short-term hit would be the best thing for Rodda's career.
"He's very young," Hunt said on Tuesday.
"Obviously as a Wallaby you want him around because he's really a quality player who's growing.
"For the Reds, yes, first and foremost (it's good) because he's going to be back for the start of the year.
"But it's going to be beneficial for the Wallabies going forward as well.
"If that's the decision being made, I'm sure it's going to be the right one and he'll be on board with it."
Outgoing Wallabies scrum coach Mario Ledesma said Rodda had plenty of reason to be proud of his performances in his maiden Test season.
"What's certain is he's one of the guys who's been improving the most, physically and technically," Ledesma said.
"He'll be here for the next 10, 15 years.
"You'll be seeing a lot of him. He's a great project of a player."
