Ben Donaldson is on his way across the Nullabor Plain to Perth, the Wallabies back rushed into Western Force's run-on XV for their clash with the British & Irish Lions following a hamstring injury to veteran Kurtley Beale.
Thirty-six-year-old Beale was due to start at fullback for the Force in the Lions' first game Down Under, before he was scrubbed on Thursday, just hours before coach Simon Cron was due to unveil his matchday 23.
Instead, Donaldson will get his wish and line up for the Force, alongside eight other players who have represented the Wallabies, one-Test All Blacks centre Matt Proctor and former England hooker Nic Dolly.
Donaldson will be joined in the run-on XV by the uncapped Nick Champion De Crespigny, who will be looking to make an impression before he links up with the Wallabies next week.
The same goes for lock Darcy Swain, who forms an experienced second-row combination alongside former Wallabies forward Sam Carter.
Nic White will lead a backline that also features Wallabies Dylan Pietsch and Hamish Stewart.
But it was a crushing blow for Beale, who only returned late in the Super Rugby season from an Achilles tendon injury he suffered playing club rugby in Sydney midway through 2024.
Donaldson, meanwhile, had originally been ring-fenced by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt alongside his fellow playmakers Tom Lynagh and Noah Lolesio for the one-off Test against Fiji, with Harry Potter, Carlo Tizzano and Jeremy Williams the other Force players precluded from playing in Perth.
"Yeah, they'll win I reckon," Donaldson said Wednesday before news of Beale's injury broke. "It's an awesome experience for them and a great challenge. You saw the Brumbies win 12 years ago so it's not impossible.
"Everyone knows it's going to be a great challenge for the group, a few boys who have only played a few games here might get a crack for the Force. They're just working hard.
"I was back there the last two weeks training with them and they're ripping in, they're training really hard and they're having a bit of fun at the same time. Kurtley Beale has spoken to the group about really enjoying the next couple of weeks, so has 'Whitey' [Nic White] and Sam Carter.
"They're really excited and hopefully they get the win."
A crowd of around 50,000 is expected for the Lions' first game in Australia. The tourists will confirm their own 23 later on Thursday.
WESTERN FORCE SQUAD:
Ben Donaldson, Mac Grealy, Matt Proctor, Hamish Stewart, Dylan Pietsch, Alex Harford, Nic White (capt); Vaiolini Ekuasi, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Will Harris, Darcy Swain, Sam Carter, Ollie Hoskins, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Tom Robertson.
Replacements: Nic Dolly, Marley Pearce, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Lopeti Faifua, Reed Prinsep, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Bayley Kuenzle
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