Junior Wallabies coach Nathan Grey remains wary of Fiji despite confirming a rotated side to open Australia's campaign at the World Rugby U20 Championship on June 25.
With five games in the space of four weeks, Grey has made several changes to the side that played New Zealand last month with Reds backrower Nick Baker captaining the side.
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Regular captain Teddy Wilson will come off the bench alongside Easts and Waratahs teammate Jack Bowen.
"It's certainly going to be a long struggle (but) the guys that play get the first opportunity to have a crack at the Fiji game," Grey said.
"It's going to take a 30-man squad to go deep in this tournament and we're very conscious of that."
The Junior Wallabies were dominant in their last encounter, taking a 58-5 victory almost exactly a year ago at the Oceania U20 Championships.
However, Grey is refusing to take them lightly with a host of stars with Super Rugby experience still included.
Western Force young gun Marley Pearce starts in the front row whilst Rebels young gun Daniel Maiava joins Toby Macpherson in the second row.
Brumbies debutant Klayton Thorn steps up with Wilson on the bench, with Reds playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips winning the race to the vacant flyhalf position after Tom Lynagh's late withdrawal.
His club teammate Taj Annan starts in the centres alongside David Vaihu whilst Sevens star Darby Lancaster, Mason Gordon and Rohan Leahy, who scored a hat-trick against NZ, complete a dangerous back three.
"At this age group, 12 months is a very long time for the development of the players both physically and mentally. I think you're a little naive to look at last year and take a lot of gauge from that," Grey believes.
"Obviously, the Drua and being able to have young players in that squad exposes them to a higher level of footy and the more consistently they can do that, the more consistently they can play.
"2023 is a totally new environment. We're treating it that way and we'll be focusing on what we need to do to perform at the level we want to."
Junior Wallabies side to face Fiji U20, Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch, 4.30pm Saturday SAST (12.30am Sunday AEST)
1. Marley Pearce (Western Force, Joondalup Brothers)
2. Liam Bowron (ACT Brumbies, Canberra Royals)
3. Nick Bloomfield (QLD Reds, Easts Tigers)
4. Toby Macpherson (ACT Brumbies, Uni-Norths Owls)
5. Daniel Maiava-Tapusoa (Melbourne Rebels, Wests Bulldogs)
6. Lachlan Hooper (ACT Brumbies, Vikings Rugby)
7. Nick Baker (c) (QLD Reds, GPS Rugby Club)
8. Leafi Heka Talataina (Melbourne Rebels, Endeavour Hills)
9. Klayton Thorn (ACT Brumbies, Gungahlin Eagles)
10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (QLD Reds, Souths Magpies)
11. Darby Lancaster (Melbourne Rebels, Eastern Suburbs)
12. David Vaihu (Melbourne Rebels, Wests Bulldogs)
13. Taj Annan (QLD Reds, Souths Magpies)
14. Ronan Leahy (Western Force, Sydney University)
15. Mason Gordon (Melbourne Rebels, Wests Bulldogs)
Reserves
16. Harrison Usher (QLD Reds, Bond University)
17. Max Craig (QLD Reds, Easts Tigers)
18. Trevor King (QLD Reds, Souths Magpies)
19. Ollie McCrea (NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs)
20. Ned Slack-Smith (Western Force, Palmyra Rugby Union Club)
21. Teddy Wilson (NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs)
22. Jack Bowen (NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs)
23. Henry O'Donnell (NSW Waratahs, Northern Suburbs)
