Wales will face an experimental Australian back division in Saturday's Test at the Millennium Stadium after Wallabies coach John Connolly named Stephen Larkham at inside centre.
Larkham, who has played all his international rugby either at fly-half or full-back, will partner Lote Tuqiri in a new-look Australian midfield.
Mat Rogers is the starting fly-half and, with George Gregan being rested for the tour and Sam Cordingley injured, Matt Giteau takes over at scrum-half.
Cameron Shepherd secured the available wing berth with one of the few impressive displays in Australia's 24-16 defeat to the Ospreys in Swansea last night.
Up front, openside flanker Phil Waugh, who captains the side, and lock Nathan Sharpe are the only survivors from the Australian pack demolished in Wales' 24-22 victory 12 months ago.
The front row is made up of 21-stone Queenslander Rodney Blake, hooker Tai McIsaac and Al Baxter, who has switched to the loosehead side.
There is no place in the 22-man squad for George Smith, who captained Australia against the Ospreys.
Meanwhile, secondrow Hugh McMeniman has been cleared of serious injury after he was stretchered off in the Wallaby second string's humbling defeat to the Ospreys last night.
McMeniman, who was marking his 23rd birthday, was taken off after 10 minutes of the 24-16 defeat when he lay motionless on the floor after a ruck 20 metres from the Wallaby line at Swansea's Liberty Stadium.
He was taken to hospital in a neck brace and an X-ray and CT scan cleared him of serious injury, an Australian Rugby Union statement said.
But McMeniman's scare did little to disguise the modest performance by Australia in the first match of a tour that will see the senior side face Wales, Ireland, Italy and Scotland in November tests.
Already without skipper George Gregan, Australia are due to name their side will later this week name a captain to stand in for tour leader Stirling Mortlock in Saturday's clash with the Welsh, the centre still ruled out as he recovers from knee surgery.
Australia: C Latham (Queensland Reds); C Rathbone (ACT Brumbies), L Tuqiri (NSW Waratahs), S Larkham (ACT Brumbies), C Shepherd (Western Force); M Rogers (NSW Waratahs), M Giteau (Western Force); A Baxter (NSW Waratahs), T McIsaac (Western Force), R Blake (Queensland Reds), N Sharpe (Western Force), D Vickerman (NSW Waratahs), R Elsom (NSW Waratahs), P Waugh (NSW Waratahs, captain), W Palu (NSW Waratahs). Replacements: B Cannon (Western Force), B Robinson (NSW Waratahs), M Chisholm (ACT Brumbies), S Hoiles (ACT Brumbies), J Valentine (Queensland Reds), M Gerrard (ACT Brumbies), A Ashley-Cooper (ACT Brumbies).
