"Two weeks ago," the Australian playmaker said.

But now he is adamant flyhalf is the best position for him to give his all to the Wallabies in their third Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday.

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie could reshuffle his side for the must-win encounter after inside centre Matt To'omua was ruled out through injury.

Irae Simone looms as the ideal straight swap, but O'Connor could also move to 12 to hand ACT Brumbies young gun Noah Lolesio a Test debut.

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O'Connor says a shift one wider of the ruck is "definitely a possibility" and while he says he is still learning on the run, he is relishing the chance to pull the strings in attack.

"I'm not going to lie, I came back to Australian rugby as a centre and I played in that World Cup. It did frustrate me because I couldn't give my all," O'Connor said.

"I felt like I wasn't involved as much as I would have liked. You want to go out there knowing you've done the job.

"I went back to the drawing board with one of my coaches and we sat down and chatted about how can I take my game forward, and it was if the opportunity came up to step up at 10.

"Funnily enough after round one in Super Rugby, that opportunity came. It was still a big learning curve because I hadn't played 10 in six years.

"The COVID break for me was big in terms of the amount of analysis I put into my game and watching the most efficient 10s in the world, and also just getting my skill set up to scratch.

"I'm comfortable there now, I feel like I'm bringing my own element to 10, I feel like this is my best spot to give my all."

The Wallabies will need to be near-perfect if they are to win back the Bledisloe Cup for the first time in 18 years after dropping game two in Auckland.

O'Connor is confident the hosts will have the offensive firepower to stun the All Blacks, but miss 40 tackles like they did last time around and they can just about forget about it.

"You're never going to win a Test match when you miss that many tackles," O'Connor said.

O'Connor's return to the No. 10 jersey during the Bledisloe Cup campaign marks the first time he has played in the position for the national side in seven years.

His last stint in the position left him frustrated before he ditched the role for stints at fullback, on the wing, and in the centres.

But now the Queensland Reds veteran is confident he has made No. 10 his own.

"I just didn't have the understanding I do now of how to control a game." O'Connor said.

"I didn't quite step up, I felt I went into my shell and didn't fire my shots as I had at Super Rugby previously, and when I had pulled on that 10 jersey earlier in my career for the Wallabies, even though it was only one game before that.

"In terms of running away, I just didn't want to play 10 anymore. I moved to 15 and played a little bit on the wing, I was finding my feet where I was going to be playing.

"I always knew in the back of my mind 10 was a goal. I made 12 a good home for the time being, I learnt all the skills there I needed from my 10 and from my outside backs.

"It's been a natural progression as I've matured, using my mind more and less of my body, and playing for the team more so than as an individual."