When Sam Cordingley is at the end of his Wallabies days, one thing will be clear: the Test No.9 jersey has never come easily.

After it was assumed he would take over the Test halfback spot following the knee injury to Luke Burgess, there is now strong word Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is considering starting Brett Sheehan in the Durban Test on August 23.

The Wallabies, who will play two Tri Nations matches in South Africa, left Sydney for Johannesburg yesterday with the pecking order of the halfbacks far from resolved.

It seems Sheehan might get the nod because of his belligerent nature, which could be an important resource against the ultra-aggressive Springboks. His defence in tight play will have to pick up, however, especially as his Randwick opponent Patrick Phibbs showed him up by scoring a try from a scrum right under his nose in last weekend's club match at Pittwater Rugby Park. Sheehan later redeemed himself when he won the game for Warringah by kicking two penalty goals.

Sheehan is renowned for his fire-and-brimstone approach, which has sometimes found him trouble with referees. If he can contain himself, Sheehan has a way of distracting opponents, while he will not be intimidated.

As Cordingley is returning to French club Grenoble following the end-of-season Wallabies tour of Hong Kong and Europe in November-December, Deans might also look upon the South African trip as a means of determining whether Sheehan is the ideal back-up for Burgess, who is set to miss the rest of the Tri Nations.

As the 32-year-old Reds captain has often been thwarted by injury, which has seen him enjoy only five starting Tests for the Wallabies, Cordingley was not expecting any early Christmas presents yesterday.

Before boarding the flight, Cordingley said he had received no notification as to whether he would be starting or on the bench in Durban.

"This is still going to be exciting, playing the two Tests against the Boks, and hopefully starting," he said. "It is a great opportunity, and these are the games you want to play in. Johannesburg … Durban … big stadiums, big crowds and the pressure of the Tri Nations being at stake."

Although the squad is relatively young, Cordingley is adamant the Wallabies will not be daunted by what lies ahead.

"Everyone in the squad has played in South Africa before, and knows what it's like," he said. "We know the Springboks are that much better a team when they're playing at home. So it will be very physical, and that's the way I like to play the game. And we definitely have the players to match them.

"The physicality aspect has been brought up among the playing group, and it is something we don't want to relax on. It seems that the times we don't go particularly well is when we are out-enthused in the physical department. So we have to really pick up in that area."

Cordingley is as adamant he will do all he can before the Test team is announced on Thursday to convince Deans and Co he is the man who should be starting.

"Now that the position is available, I'm going to take it with both hands," he said. "If the opportunity emerges that I get the starting spot, hopefully I can play out the rest of the Tri Nations in that position.

"As I said at the start of the season, I was surprised to be part of this Wallaby squad, but now the hope is to play as much Test football as I can. I just want to play as many games as I can for Australia, and it is pleasing to think that I may still be able to add some value to the side. They've shown faith in me and I'm happy to repay them."

Another tight selection spot is expected to be blindside breakaway, with Hugh McMeniman and Dean Mumm in the mix.