Wallaby coach Robbie Deans has dismissed the notion that the Australian team, to face South Africa in a Tri-Nations Test in Brisbane on Saturday, will be a pushover because it is an "experimental selection".

Deans said Australia's players, who have been savaged as "brain dead" and shambolic by local media during this year's tournament, would not lack motivation.

"It's a Test match and against the world's best team at one of the premier venues in world rugby," Deans told a media gathering, after naming a team that shows five changes - with scrumhalf Will Genia and flank David Pocock set to make their run-on debuts.

"That [playing the Springboks] is not a prospect any of our blokes would take lightly.

"Every time you put on your national jumper you want to, and expect to, do your best."

Deans said Genia, 21, had already established a combination with Berrick Barnes playing for the Reds in the Super 14 tournament.

"Will has shown us since he joined the squad at the start of the Tri-Nations that he is up to this level, and we saw that again last Saturday," he said if reference when Genia came on as a second-half replacement in Perth last week.

"Having Berrick, whom he knows so well and has such a great understanding with, playing alongside him will also help."

Wallaby captain George Smith was shifted from openside flank to No.8, allowing Pocock to replace Richard Brown, who was also unconvincing in the last outing against the Springboks.

Deans was adamant that the inexperienced duo of Genia and Pocock will hold their own against the world's top team.

The Wallaby mentor said he holds "great expectations" for what the two newcomers would produce against the Springboks.

He also dismissed the notion that the many selection changes were fuelled by panic.

"We clearly believed in all the blokes we picked, this is by no means tokenism, nor is it a stick," Deans said.

"These guys who are getting their first start have earned their right - it's not something that we've taken lightly.

"They've all shown it already that they're perfectly capable ... it's not a big step in so far as you've already seen these players play, and do well, so it's not as if we're clutching at straws.

Deans also said that the axing of veteran prop Al Baxter, who has gone from a starting spot to no place in the matchday 22 in the past fortnight, could still force his way back into the side.

"Al will play club rugby this week, and as has always been the case with all the players that play club rugby, it is important," he said.

"What they do there is important, without going into detail I can tell you that selection choices have been impacted on through club performances."