Six members of the Western Force side from this year's Super 14 have been named in the Wallabies squad to tackle South Africa in Saturday's Mandela Trophy/Tri-Nations Test in Perth.

Fullback James O'Connor, centre Ryan Cross, flyhalf Matt Giteau and No.8 Richard Brown have all made the starting XV for Australia's fourth outing of the Tri-Nations series, while flank David Pocock and wing Drew Mitchell could be involved from the bench.

The selection of Cross, who appeared off the bench during last weekend's Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney, is one of three alterations in personnel to the starting combination from that match, with the return of Mark Chisholm for his 41st Test the most notable change.

The 26-year-old Brumbies lock, who last appeared for Australia at Test level when he scored a try against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on the year-end tour in November last year, recently made his playing return for the Randwick club after dislocating his wrist during the Super 14.

Chisholm has successfully negotiated his way through two club matches, the most recent of which was last weekend, after he sustained the injury playing against the Cheetahs at Bloemfontein midway through the Super 14.

The door opened for Chisholm to return to the international stage due to the shoulder injury suffered by the Western Force skipper Nathan Sharpe last weekend against the All Blacks.

Although Sharpe misses the match, Perth fans will still get the chance to see another of their favourite sons, in the form of the talented 19-year-old O'Connor.

The teenager has recovered from the calf injury which ended his night early in the second Bledisloe Test last week, in time to retain his place in the starting line-up, for what will be the fourth starting role, and the eighth Test, of his short international career.

O'Connor proved his fitness at training this week and will now play his maiden Test on his Super 14 home ground.

There is one change to the back three, with a new wing, after Peter Hynes was rewarded for his big impression as a replacement in Sydney, by being named to start in place of Drew Mitchell.

Mitchell has been named in the reserves.

The match will be just the second start of the season, and third appearance of the Test programme, for Hynes who was last year's Wallabies Rookie of the Year but has this term had to endure a season disrupted by injury.

The third personnel change to the starting XV sees props Ben Alexander and Al Baxter swap jobs, with Alexander starting at tighthead for just the second time this year, having earlier taken on the role against Italy in Melbourne.

The improving Brumbies front row forward, who has largely been employed on the tighthead side of the scrum this year, played the final 49 minutes of last weekend's Test in the role after replacing Baxter, who is named on the bench.

Inside centre Berrick Barnes, who retired at half-time after taking a knock against the All Blacks, was ruled out on Tuesday.

The versatile Adam Ashley-Cooper moves to inside centre in Barnes' absence, while Quade Cooper has been added to the bench.

The fourth of Australia's players to be under an injury cloud after last weekend's rugged Bledisloe clash, blindside flank Rocky Elsom, has been passed fit to play.

The 26-year-old, who made a powerful return to the Wallabies in Sydney after not having played since May, proved his fitness for the assignment at training this morning after scans had earlier eased fears of any significant damage to his ankle.

Australia must beat South Africa to stay alive in this year's Tri-Nations and also to retain its grip on the Mandela Trophy, which has been contested on an annual basis by the two countries since 2000.

South Africa leads the current series one-nil, courtesy of its 29-17 win over the Wallabies at Cape Town earlier this month.

If Australia can square the series in Perth, the trophy will be decided when the two teams meet again at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane seven days later.

Australia: 15 James O'Connor, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Adam Ashley Cooper, 11 Peter Hynes, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Richard Brown, 7 George Smith (captain), 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 James Horwill, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.

Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 David Pocock, 20 Will Genia, 21 Quade Cooper, 22 Drew Mitchell.

Date: Saturday, August 29
Venue: Subiaco Oval, Perth
Kick-off: 18.05 (10.05 GMT)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
TMO: Keith Brown (New Zealand)

365

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