NSW Waratahs playmakers Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley have been thrust into a personal duel for the Wallabies' vacant five-eighth role.
With incumbent flyhalf Quade Cooper to miss the entire domestic Test season following shoulder and hip surgery, Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie on Thursday made it clear Beale and Foley were the frontrunners to fill the void for next month's three-games series against France.
Beale and Foley were the only two nominated as five-eighths when McKenzie named his 32-man squad by positions, with Brumbies playmakers Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano both categorised as centres.
"I've deliberately nominated certain players for positions. That will help the armchair selectors try and understand how we think," McKenzie said.
Foley, playing at five-eighth, and Beale at inside centre have been outstanding sharing the playmaking responsibilities for the Waratahs this season and McKenzie could go either way.
Beale, though, is tipped to get the nod - especially if old scrumbase partner Will Genia is selected at halfback ahead of Nic White - with McKenzie unconcerned the utility ace hasn't worn the gold No.10 jumper since the Wallabies' 2012 spring tour.
"I've coached Kurtley Beale as a 10 back in my Waratahs days so I know him," McKenzie said.
After handing 26-year-old Foley his Test debut last year, McKenzie also has full confidence in the former Australian sevens star to direct the backline.
"We invested in him last year and he was in and around the squad all the time," McKenzie said.
"He's got all the right characteristics. I remember in Argentina when he got his first cap, it was an emotional moment and you want to see that. That's the attitudinal piece.
"He's a very professional operator with lots of skills. Yeah, it's been a reasonably quick climb for him, but not surprising.
"That's what it's about. He got an opportunity last year, took it and he's still there.
"That's exactly what you want. You want guys to get on the escalator and keep going up."
Unheralded Brumby Sam Carter was the big bolter as one of five second-rowers selected.
Carter, 24, was called up beside fellow uncapped locks Will Skelton, 22, and Luke Jones, 23, following the loss of Ireland-bound Kane Douglas, France-based Sitaleki Timani and rising Melbourne Rebel Hugh Pyle to overseas clubs.
McKenzie also overlooked France-bound 2013 Wallabies captain Ben Mowen, but won't name his replacement as skipper until gathering for the opening Test on June 7 in Brisbane.
"I made a decision that we have to look forward," McKenzie said. "We've made an investment in guys that are going to be around."
The coach also gave World Cup hope to previously discarded Wallabies, with Western Force duo Pek Cowan and Matt Hodgson given chances to reignite their Test careers after last playing for Australia in 2011.
Workhorse flanker Hodgson has been a standout for the Force, but no-frills loose-head prop Cowan is a surprise - tipping out 66-Test stalwart Benn Robinson and Chief-turned-Rebel Toby Smith.
The Force's impressive Super Rugby results helped them gain five inclusions, including uncapped hooker Nathan Charles as one of four rookies.
The Waratahs (11) and Brumbies (10) dominate the squad, but Queensland players paid the price for their terrible Super Rugby slump with only four Reds included.
Possible Wallabies team to play France: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Nick Cummins, Kurtley Beale, Will Genia; Ben McCalman, Michael Hooper (capt), Scott Fardy, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Res: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Will Skelton, Scott Higginbotham, Nic White, Bernard Foley, Pat McCabe.
Squad members - Rob Horne, Christian Lealiifano, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, Matt Hodgson, Luke Jones, Sam Carter, Pek Cowan, Nathan Charles.
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