Flanker George Smith will become the Wallabies' 75th Test skipper on Saturday four months after knocking back a co-captaincy role.

Smith will lead a largely second-string Australian side, missing rested flyhalf Berrick Barnes, into their final World Cup pool match against Canada in Bordeaux.

Coach John Connolly bestowed the honour onto the quietly-spoken back-rower despite him choosing against taking up co-captaincy before the start of the domestic Test season.

Connolly had asked Smith to consider joining Stirling Mortlock and No.7 selection rival Phil Waugh as team leaders but the 82-Test ball-scavenger preferred to keep his focus on his own game.

The 27-year-old has refused to speak about his decision publicly only to declare he didn't believe it would cost him at the selection table.

Smith's career-best form has taken care of that and Waugh is now in the dangerous position of being overlooked for a bench spot as well.

While Smith is just two Tests away from equalling David Wilson's record (79) for most Australian caps at flanker, prop Al Baxter will celebrate his 50th Test and move within one of the mark of Ewen McKenzie.

The provisional new-look side may not bear complete resemblance to the team which starts at Stade Chaban-Delmas with serious doubts over centre Scott Staniforth.

Staniforth's shoulder injury could still force a major backline reshuffle with named reserve Chris Latham to start at fullback and Matt Giteau promoted to the bench.

Staniforth will be given until Friday to prove his fitness and if he's out Adam Ashley-Cooper and Lote Tuqiri would each move one position in and Cameron Shepherd go from fullback to wing.

Stephen Larkham's knee infection has triggered a domino effect with specialist No.10 Barnes safeguarded and utility Julian Huxley picked for his first Test at five-eighth.

Huxley's selection comes more than four years after former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones overlooked him for a deserved debut when a host of No.10s were injured or suspended.

Winger Tuqiri is the only player to have started the three preceding pool B matches to be retained in the run-on side.

The selectors are keen to give the hungry winger more time to find his rhythm and open his World Cup try-scoring account.

Tuqiri looked on with envy on Sunday as fellow winger Drew Mitchell crossed for a hat-trick to take his tournament tally to five while Matt Giteau bagged a double.

"I've been reminding him that he hasn't got over the line yet," Giteau said.

"But I still think Lote's playing some good rugby even though he's not scoring."

No.8 David Lyons will get his first chance to impress in the tournament, as will late call-up Cameron Shepherd, in his preferred fullback position.

Wallabies: Cameron Shepherd, Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Scott Staniforth, Lote Tuqiri, Julian Huxley, Sam Cordingley; David Lyons, George Smith, Hugh McMeniman, Mark Chisholm, Nathan Sharpe, Al Baxter, Adam Freier, Greg Holmes. Sean Hardman, Guy Shepherdson, Rocky Elsom, Phil Waugh, Stephen Hoiles, George Gregan, Chris Latham.

AAP