The 21-year-old flyhalf speaks with candour when asked about his Test debut, the Wallabies' heaviest defeat to the All Blacks in 117 years of trans-Tasman rugby last October.

It was a night to remember for all the wrong reasons. Lolesio felt as though he had failed himself, his family, and a nation of rugby supporters.

But somehow he had to find a way to pick himself up off the canvas. The rising star who has Christian Lealiifano in his corner did just that.

Which is perhaps enough to suggest Lolesio is the perfect candidate to take the reins for the Wallabies in the opening Test against France in Brisbane on Wednesday night.

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James O'Connor is facing a race against the clock to be fit for the series opener, with Lolesio in a battle with utility Reece Hodge to land the No. 10 jersey.

Lolesio is confident he will be ready to rise to the occasion if Wallabies coach Dave Rennie gives him the nod for the series opener, which marks the first Test in an 11-day period.

"That's the one key learning I have learnt from last year to this. In this game you've got to have a short-term memory, because just like that, five days later, you're playing another Test match," Lolesio said.

"Obviously you've got to review it thoroughly, but at the same time you've got to move on too.

"Obviously it wasn't a game to remember on my behalf, especially as it was my debut too. It did take a couple of days to get over it personally because I felt like I let myself down, let my family down, let the country down too.

"But I bounced back real quick after a couple of days, just shrugged it off, and I was pretty happy with how I bounced back at [Lang Park] when I came off the bench.

"Obviously the last time I wore the No. 10 jersey it wasn't quite the debut [I hoped for]. I feel like I'm more prepared now and I would be very grateful to put on that jersey again."

But whether he does or not come Wednesday night in Brisbane is "the million-dollar question".

Question marks hang over O'Connor and Matt To'omua as they continue to battle neck injuries while scrumhalf Jake Gordon is racing the clock to be fit for the series opener.

NSW skipper Gordon and Tate McDermott have firmed as the two leading candidates for the scrumhalf role with Ryan Lonergan on standby should the Waratahs veteran be ruled out.

"Snake is obviously coming back from an injury but for the past couple of weeks he has been slotting in and out of training really well. If he's in then I'm sure he will do a good job," Lolesio said.

"He's getting his reps in this week and hopefully he will be ready to go by Wednesday

"I think all of our halfbacks here have different strengths. Snakey is more of a composed halfback, he has got a great kicking game on him.

"Tate, as we all know, is pretty electrifying and he has a pretty electrifying running game. It's just how to work with those different halfbacks and what their cues are on how they like to control the game or when they like to take their opportunities."

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