Australia coach Joe Schmidt said on Thursday that he hoped "exciting prospect" Carter Gordon's recent quad issue would not hinder the fly-half from starting this weekend's Autumn Nations Series game against France in Paris.
Gordon is line for just his 10th Test appearance as he replaces James O'Connor from last weekend's defeat to Ireland.
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The 24-year-old suffered a quad complaint in the loss to Italy on November 8, in his first rugby union Test since September 2023.
"He's an exciting prospect," Schmidt told reporters of a player who started two of Australia's four matches during their 2023 World Cup campaign, before switching to rugby league.
"I'm hoping it (quad injury) won't be an issue. I hope he can do a full spectrum of skills expected of him," Schmidt added.
Gordon was only rushed back from the NRL in October and straight into the Australia squad to tour Japan and Europe.
Halves partner and NSW Waratahs scrumhalf Jake Gordon backed the new Red to make an impact.
"Carter's looked great this week. He obviously had a little bit of a niggle two, three weeks ago,and his speed that he can put onto the ball, he's a really good athlete, quick off the mark too," he said.
"So if he sniffs anything out, he has the ability to cut them open and a really strong kicking game too, with a lot of metres.
Schmidt will leave the head coach role in July with the Reds' Les Kiss coming in, a little over a year before the Wallabies host the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
"They (the players) wouldn't be aware of all the statistics because what has happened historically, we can't control that," former Ireland coach Schmdit said.
"It's not going to add value to what we do in the very near future," the 60-year-old added.
