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SYDNEY - Chris Latham could play his first rugby test in eight months after being bracketed in the Wallabies starting lineup for Saturday's Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup decider against the All Blacks in Auckland.
Latham's bracketing with utility Adam Ashley-Cooper at fullback is one of three changes to the Wallabies side from their 25-17 win over the Springboks on July 7.
Hooker Stephen Moore returns from a sternum injury to replace Adam Freier in the starting side while No 8 David Lyons replaces Stephen Hoiles who shifts to the bench.
Latham, voted Wallabies player-of-the-year in 2006, will be given until after today's training session to prove his fitness. He was rushed back by coach John Connolly after Julian Huxley was ruled out with a bruised thigh suffered when he was tackled by Brumbies teammate Gene Fairbanks at a party on Saturday night.
The Queensland fullback only played his first full club game on Sunday after a long break following knee reconstruction surgery in January.
"We want to put him through two (training) sessions then re-evaluate him after that. We just want to be 100 per cent confident he's ready," Connolly said.
If Latham is ruled out, Ashley-Cooper will play fullback with Drew Mitchell returning to the wing.
The Wallabies are chasing three consecutive wins after beating the All Blacks 20-15 in Melbourne and the Springboks in Sydney.
They haven't won in New Zealand since 2001 when they toppled the All Blacks 23-15 in Dunedin.
AUSTRALIA
Backs
Chris Latham/Adam Ashley-Cooper, Ashley-Cooper/Drew Mitchell, Stirling Mortlock (captain), Matt Giteau, Mark Gerrard, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan.
Forwards
David Lyons, George Smith, Rocky Elsom, Daniel Vickerman, Nathan Sharpe, Guy Shepherdson, Stephen Moore, Matt Dunning.
Reserves: Adam Freier, Al Baxter, Hugh McMeniman, Stephen Hoiles, Phil Waugh, Scott Staniforth, Mitchell/Latham.
- NZPA
