Reece Hodge earns a shot as Wallabies flyhalf ahead of Noah Lolesio in Bledisloe Cup

Wallabies mentor Dave Rennie has made six changes to the starting side thrashed by the All Blacks last week in a bid to salvage pride in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Hodge has been handed the reins in the No. 10 jersey with Lolesio moving back to the bench, as first-choice playmaker James O'Connor battles a knee complaint.

Rennie says he considered giving Lolesio another chance but the 20-year-old ultimately "wasn't sharp enough" on debut as the Wallabies fell to their heaviest ever defeat to New Zealand.

It throws 26-year-old Hodge in the box seat as he prepares to pull on the No. 10 jersey for the second time in his 42-Test career, with the first coming against Japan three years ago.

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The versatile Melbourne Rebels back has played 60 matches at Super Rugby level but only five of those have started with him at flyhalf.

"We seriously looked at starting Noah, Hodgey has got an impressive skill set," Rennie said.

"Because he has played a lot of midfield, he defends very well, he can carry. Probably another one like the guy he is going to mark on the weekend, Beauden Barrett, who tends to carry a lot of ball in that channel.

"This is an opportunity. He has been a jack of all trades, filled in a lot of holes, maybe this is an opportunity to establish himself.

"He's a really good man, he works hard, he's an excellent communicator, really good knowledge of everything in our game. He plays for the Rebels and he plays all over the place. That is a testament to his skill set.

"I know he wants to cement a spot, and to be honest his preferred spot is probably 12, 13 or 15, not winger. But he is very excited about playing 10, so maybe 10."

The Wallabies will field a brand new midfield pairing outside Hodge, with Hunter Paisami partnering outside centre Jordan Petaia as they look to avoid a 3-0 series defeat.

Irae Simone has fallen out of the 23-man squad, while Dane Haylett-Petty's head knock sees Tom Banks recalled at fullback.

Tom Wright is poised to make his Test debut with Filipo Daugunu shuffling back to the bench alongside Lolesio.

"We think Noah off the bench will be good for him this week. He's learnt a bit, he has actually gone really well at training. We expect him to respond off the bench," Rennie said.

"He has learnt a lot from this, he has learnt to trust others around him especially. There was some good communication for him to select other options.

"He's got a really good skill set but that wasn't sharp enough on the weekend. He has responded really well and we did consider throwing him back in. It's a very young group outside of Whitey [scrumhalf Nic White] so we've plugged it with Hodgey there."

While the hosts turn to a left-field option to start at No. 10, the All Blacks have the luxury of calling on two-time World Rugby player of the year Beauden Barrett.

Barrett replaces Richie Mo'unga in the playmaking role, giving Ian Foster an embarrassment of riches given Mo'unga was man of the match in New Zealand's biggest win over Australia in 117 years.

BLEDISLOE CUP IV

Tri-Nations match two: Saturday - Australia v New Zealand at Lang Park, 7.45pm.

Wallabies squad: 1. James Slipper, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Rob Simmons, 5. Matt Philip, 6. Lachlan Swinton, 7. Michael Hooper (c), 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Nic White, 10. Reece Hodge, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Hunter Paisami, 13. Jordan Petaia, 14. Tom Wright, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: 16. Folau Fainga'a, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Ned Hanigan, 20. Liam Wright, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Noah Lolesio, 23. Filipo Daugunu.

All Blacks squad: 1. Karl Tu'inukuafe, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Ofa Tuungafasi, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. Akira Ioane, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Ardie Savea, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Jordie Barrett. Replacements: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Alex Hodgman, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Cullen Grace, 21. Brad Weber, 22. Damian McKenzie, 23. Will Jordan.