Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's elevation to the Test squad is the "best runway possible" to prepare his prize recruit for the 2025 British & Irish Lions Series.
Despite having last played rugby union in 2018, Suaalii bypassed Rod Seib's 30-man Australia XV unit for a berth in Schmidt's 34-man Spring Tour squad alongside the likes of returning international duo Will Skelton, Samu Kerevi and fellow uncapped backs Tane Edmed and Harry Potter.
Check out the full Wallabies and Australia XV 2024 Tour Squads.
Fronting media in Sydney on Tuesday, Schmidt told reporters fast-tracking the talented Suaalii would be "most beneficial" for all parties and tipped a Test debut sooner rather than later.
"Having had him at the hub in Canberra last week, he's a kid who works hard on his game and very quick to pick things up," Schmidt said of Suaalii.
"We just want to make sure that we give him the best runway possible to try and get involved in the Wallabies.
"Part of it is that we play the Lions next year so if he doesn't debut on this tour, there's a very little window - maybe one opportunity - to play before the Lions and that would be it.
"For us, we feel a little bit of pressure to be able to fast-track him and integrate those others guys as well."
Schmidt admitted there was debate as to whether Suaalii should cut his teeth with the Australia XV but said it was "more likely he'll start or come off the bench in a Wallabies fixture".
The Wallabies coach also confessed he was not sure in which position the 21-year-old would get his first Test opportunity - centre, wing or fullback.
"We're not sure he's ready but the best way to find out is to have him in camp and to get to get him a bit further," Schmidt added.
"We're not absolutely sure ourselves. I know at school he played fullback and wing and in the centres, I think he played wing for U18s when Josh Flook as the captain of that team.
"But I've seen enough of him play as a rugby league player in the midfield and have got really good feedback from others players about him in the schools system. The likes of Angus Bell and Josh Flook, they speak highly of him.
"(Suaalii) could've gone with Sieby and we would've been pretty comfortable with that and we talked about that as an option to get a little game before stepping up with the Wallabies.
"Being in an environment where we get to know him as well is what we felt was most beneficial for us and hopefully for Joseph and the team."
Schmidt also addressed the inclusion of Edmed and Potter, who will battle for a maiden Test in the Wallaby backline cap as Australia chase a drought-breaking Grand Slam.
"We tend to consider everyone for section when we first get them in a squad. We've got 34 players in that squad so of those there are five new faces and they'll all come into contention for that first test and all the way through.
"What we'd tended to to is not play them in the first Test … but I guess we get a bit of time here, maybe three trainings here and a couple over there. We've got a few guys still recovering from TRC so it will depend on that mix."
The Wallabies squad will assemble in Sydney over the weekend before departing for the United Kingdom on Thursday next week.
