Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has given the strongest clue yet Australia may move away from starting both Michael Hooper and David Pocock in the World Cup, opening the door to other backrow combinations.
The so-called "Pooper" combination has been a point of contention for the Wallabies, with Australia's lineout exposed when both start and Pocock generally playing out of position at no.8.
Speaking on Fox Sports' Super Saturday show, Cheika said there were "other options" around the backrow this year, including soon-to-be eligible Fijian product Isi Naisarani, his Brumbies teammate Rob Valetini, rejeuventated Waratah Jack Dempsey, returned veteran Luke Jones and versatile Reds forward Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.
Cheika has been a staunch supporter of the Pooper combination in the past but Naisarani's impending citizenship and his Super Rugby form could force a change.
"I think this year we've certainly got some other options around the backrow," Cheika said.
"Dempsey's back, Naisarani's playing some good footy and Valetini - I know he's injured but I've liked what he brought in the first four or five games and we'll be doing everything we can to get him back before the end of the season."
Cheika also faces decisions around the best position of versatile players and the best combinations for the team.
"Do you play Lukhan (Salakaia-Loto) in the back or in the middle?
"Luke Jones definitely has had a great season since he's come back; (Locky McCaffrey) is a different type of player but has had a really good season so far.
"He's more a ball player, a link player, so that gives you different ways to play the guys.
"I think sometimes having (Hooper and Pocock) playing together will be really useful and sometimes, having one coming off the bench will be really damaging as well."
Cheika said he had not met with new Director of Rugby Scott Johnson since his arrival back in Australia last week but he was ready to use his expertise ahead of the World Cup.
"We spoke after he was appointed and he was pretty comfortable in making sure that I had the ability to deliver whatever style of game that I wanted to deliver," Cheika said.
"But I would be naïve not to link in with him.
"He's got good experience internationally, different countries, playing styles, he brings a different perspective from the outside.
"You've got to have different opinion as well. That might encourage me to change one thing here, just like I do with other people."
He said there was plenty of trust involved in their relationship.
"He trusts me to get the things done and I trust him to give me an outside view and good feedback and Michael (selector Michael O'Connor) as well."
Cheika revealed he has held several gatherings with people from inside and outside of rugby, including Olympic sevens gold medallist Charlotte Caslick.
"I've had guys like (Chris) Latham, (Phil) Kearns, (Matt) Giteau, some rugby league types as well, Charlotte Caslick sat in on one of the meetings," he said.
"(It's about getting) different ideas and then we've gone out and tried to train a few of those with colts teams.
"We'll try that again before the May camp."
Cheika also explained the philosophy behind resting players, which he said was to ensure Wallabies were fit enough to handle a potential seven-game World Cup campaign.
"In the week of the World Cup final, you don't want to be going soft at training," Cheika said.
"I'm not saying we're not fit enough, I just think fitness is an easy thing to work on to be more and more and more competitive.
"The temptation is to ease back, not want to get (players) injured.
"I'm not a cliched man but sometimes you've got to break a few eggs to make the omlette.
"That hard work will have us hard and ready for seven games in a row and that's what we want to do."
