Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is keeping his cards characteristically close to his chest, but it appears utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper has been peeking over his shoulder.
Ashley-Cooper confirmed yesterday rampant speculation that new vice-captain Berrick Barnes would be Australia's flyhalf on the Wallabies' end-of-season tour, with incumbent playmaker Matt Giteau shifting to inside-centre.
Barnes and Giteau have been sharing the playmaking role, but Ashley-Cooper backed Barnes to run on wearing the No10 jersey for the fourth Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand in Tokyo on Saturday, October 31.
''They're both very good directors of the game and great callers, but I guess you've got to play to your strengths,'' Ashley-Cooper said.
''Barnesy likes calling so maybe he'll play 10 and Gits has always played his best football at 12 so I think that could work and we hope it works.
''The best thing about it is, it doesn't matter who starts where ... and that's the beauty of it.
''We've never had a team where both 10 and 12 can play 10 dominantly and that's going to create a lot of attacking options.
''Sharing No10 changes up the landscape of the attack and mixing it up in the back line creates a lot of doubt when you defend against it.''
The ACT Brumby admits while he expects a shift in the back line to reap rewards, he doesn't know where exactly he'll fit into Deans's plans.
Veteran centre Stirling Mortlock is intent on regaining his No13 jersey after injury and if Deans sees it the former captain's way, Ashley-Cooper will have to unseat incumbent fullback James O'Connor to stay in the starting XV.
Ashley-Cooper said he didn't mind what number he wore on his back during the month-long grand slam tour, and neither did anyone else in the squad.
''I've done a lot of swapping over the time and if Dingo [Deans] decides to swap me again, it wouldn't bother me at all,'' he said.
''You just don't know do you, that's what Robbie does, he keeps his cards very close to his chest and that's why competition [within the squad] is so tough.
''It keeps everyone guessing and you just don't know until team selection, until your name is on that board and it's official, do you know what position you are playing.
''If Stirling comes back I'd assume he'd move back into the 13 role.
''All I've got to do now is train well and do everything I can to get a number on my back.
''I guess the unknown has allowed me to get where I am today, the unknown, a little bit of fear.'' AAP