And coach Michael Cheika has thrown the challenge down to players on the fringes to show they want a spot in the starting team, declaring the entire squad gets to start with a clean slate.

The Wallabies will attempt to extend their nine-match winning streak against Wales when they clash at Millennium Stadium on Sunday.

It's also a chance to inflict a psychological blow to Wales less than a year before the two teams meet again in the World Cup pool stages.

But Cheika is focused only on his team's development, using flanker Sean McMahon's rise from obscurity as the example of how players can force their way into the Test team.

"[McMahon] got an opportunity and he took it. He wasn't scared to carry the ball or get involved and be aggressive," Cheika said.

"It's not complicated, sometimes it's about taking the opportunity given to you. I'm eager to reward that type of mentality, not as a gift or charity, but as an opportunity to really start now."

Cheika has put faith in the Wallabies who pushed the world champion All Blacks within seconds of defeat three weeks ago, retaining the bulk of the squad from Ewen McKenzie's last game in charge.

Cheika has been trying to leave his mark on the Wallabies, but has had just seven training sessions to do so since being appointed as coach.

The hard task master says that's no excuse for a slow performance against Wales, and five-eighth Bernard Foley hopes the Waratahs' Super Rugby success and transfer to the Test arena.

"It's my first start in Europe and there are a lot of new things to learn," NSW playmaker Bernard Foley said.

"You're never comfortable, there is some familiarity with Cheik's training regime. But we haven't imported the whole game plan from the Waratahs.

"It's very much a hybrid and using the strengths of all the other provinces as well. There's been a lot of new learning for all of us and the pick-up has been phenomenal."

McMahon's Test debut caps a remarkable first year of professional rugby.

The Melbourne Rebels flanker cancelled a holiday in Mexico to join the Wallabies in Europe, adding to a year which includes captaining the Australian junior team, winning a Commonwealth Games bronze medal and being named Australia's Super Rugby rookie of the year.

"I'm pretty stoked at the moment, the nerves are kicking in a little bit, but it's more excitement than anything," McMahon said.

"I'm looking forward to the weekend really … I'm just going to go out there and do my job, use the experience and learning I've got from the past couple of weeks to get me through."