Julian Huxley has got into the habit of proving people, particularly coaches, wrong.

Now he's relishing the chance to pilot a second-string Wallabies World Cup team which can help dispel the common view that Australian rugby lacks depth.

Huxley will start at five-eighth on Saturday against a Canadian outfit as ripe for the picking as the grapes in the nearby Bordeaux vineyards.

The utility filled in admirably as Test fullback while Chris Latham recovered from his knee reconstruction earlier this year and he has no time for suggestions that Australia lacks depth of quality players.

Huxley believes lack of regular opportunity is all that's keeping more of the World Cup squad's players from making their mark at Test level.

He pointed to rookie Berrick Barnes' dramatic rise from lucky World Cup tourist to impressively assured starting five eighth after Stephen Larkham's injury.

"Australia's so-called lack of depth has been a big talking point," Huxley said.

"Our depth if anything will be there for all to see (on Saturday).

"I think Barnesy's done extremely well for all of the doomsayers who have talked about the lack of depth at 10 and he's slotted in there very well.

"We've just got to be able to do that again. And that comes up for that second-tier of player this weekend.

"From a player's perspective I don't think we lack depth at all. I just think the guys in those second-tier positions lack that opportunity to show their ability all the time."

Places on the bench for Saturday week's World Cup quarter-final are up for grabs and the Wallabies are determined to continue building momentum against Canada.

It could mean bad news for the Canucks who will have to back up just four days after their draining 12-12 draw with Japan.

Four years ago, a similarly hungry second-string Australian side thrashed Namibia 142-0 in their one World Cup pool chance.

"We don't want to limp into the quarter-finals with a sub-par performance," Huxley said. "We really want to be accelerating into that quarter, ready to go, and a big performance this weekend is part of that."

Huxley's first Test start at No.10 comes four years after he was overlooked by former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones when Australia was bereft of five-eighths for a Melbourne Test against England.

Jones, now assisting South Africa, also played a role in Huxley leaving Queensland for the Brumbies this year where he excelled at flyhalf and fullback.

After trying to nail down a No.10 spot for so long, Huxley felt it was ironic it's landed in his lap when he's now viewed in the squad mainly as a fullback, his preferred position.

Coach John Connolly admitted himself he never imagined at the start of the year picking Huxley at five-eighth in a Test.

The selection gives the 28-year-old important time in a role he is set to cover on the bench in the play-offs with Larkham in doubt for the rest of the tournament.

Huxley denied he was motivated to prove the likes of Jones wrong.

"My motivation is to play well for your country at a World Cup.

"But that will be nice to show people that sometimes the reputation you gain early in your career you're not pigeon-holed that way for the rest of your career."

AAP