The Wallabies locks stocks are as competitive as ever, and returning Queensland Red Kane Douglas wants to add his name to that list ahead of the August 20 Bledisloe.
Douglas came off the bench for the Reds against the Brumbies last weekend, in his first match since rupturing his ACL, and said he hoped good Super Rugby would mean a Test return.
“That's what I'm hoping if I can play some good footy but I'm just worrying about playing some good footy for the Reds and see what happens from there,” he said.
“I don't talk myself up, I've just got to work hard and if I can help out in anyway I will.”
The 27-year-old spent the first two weeks in camp with the Wallabies, in the lead up to the first Test in Brisbane and while he didn’t see the lows first hand, he said a 3-0 series loss shouldn’t be panic stations for the Wallabies.
“I was only with the team until the first game so probably didn't deal with the aftermath,” he said.
“I'm sure the coaches and things will look at that but definitely it was good to see some young guys get a crack and everyone definitely put in so it's just - these things happen, you sort of have your dips and things like that.
“Hopefully we can rectify that and see the Australian team win again soon.”
Douglas will play his first home game for the Reds on Friday night, a strange turn of the tables after years as the mortal enemy of the Queenslanders, playing for the Waratahs.
“Sometimes you dread it (playing at Suncorp) on the other foot,” he said.
“I remember playing off the bench against the Reds a few years ago for the Tahs and you cop a fair bit of abuse from the fans which is good, that's what you want, giving a bit of stick to the opposition.
“it's great to put the red jersey on and play in front of a home crowd, it'll be great.”
While Douglas is pushing for a Test return, incumbent lock Will Skelton, one-half of the most recent Wallabies lock combination in the England series, is hoping he fits into Cheika’s plans.
Adam Coleman and Rory Arnold were the two latest to add to the lock list but Skelton said there was no more pressure than other seasons.
“I think there's been those familiar faces over the last couple of years. Everyone’s been in the system,” he said.
“I think he's just trying to find the perfect combination.
“Cheik's a good coach in that sense where he knows how to pick players for their strengths and he knows what players to pick to have a perfect balance in the forward pack there. "
