Carter Gordon's replacement and how best to use exiting duo Tom Hooper and Taniela Tupou loom as the key selection calls, as Les Kiss' Wallabies introduction steps up significantly against the Springboks in Perth.
Sunday's clash with the two-time defending world champions at Optus Stadium will be a far more accurate yardstick of how Kiss is tracking amidst the backdrop of the one-year-out countdown to the Rugby World Cup, which comes just four days later.
Fresh off their 3-1 series win over the All Blacks in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, the Springboks have been sunning themselves on the NSW Central Coast, while coach Rassie Erasmus last week released stars Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende home to South Africa.
But the majority of the Springboks' series-winning squad remains, which is a nod of respect to the Wallabies who recorded an amazing comeback win in Johannesburg last year and were unlucky not to repeat that upset a week later in Cape Town.
Ironically, it was James O'Connor who started those two Tests for the Wallabies, but with the veteran playmaker wearing the royal blue of the Western Force in Super Rugby Aus 12 months on, either Ben Donaldson or Declan Meredith will wear the No. 10 jersey on Sunday. Donaldson would loom as the logical choice given he started the 29-all draw with the Pumas in Mendoza, but Kiss also gave Meredith a chance in his first Test as Wallabies coach, away to Japan in Tokyo.
Meanwhile, Sunday's clash will mark the final domestic Test for Hooper and Tupou in 2026, with the duo set to return to Exeter and Racing 92 in Europe, respectively, next week.
The back-to-back Bledisloe Cup Tests fall outside World Rugby's Regulation 9 window, meaning clubs do not have to release players for international duty.
And that could well see Kiss turn to Hooper, in particular, in his starting team on Sunday evening, given the size of the Springboks pack. The versatile forward can play all three positions across the back-row, while Tupou may well be used in his more traditional bench role with Allan Alaalatoa starting in the No. 3 jersey.
Kiss may also consider a 6-2 bench split, with Carlo Tizzano potentially serving as a second fetcher alongside Fraser McReight in the second half, a duo Kiss was keen to see more of after he employed the same combination in the second Test win over Japan.
"Obviously it's another big step up, I think we've kind of built into this game," Tizzano said of the Springboks clash.
"So, we're obviously going to have to lift a lot and there's a lot to work on. But I feel like we've made some awesome strides as a team, not only on the field, but off the field as well. And I think everyone's really proud of each other of how we've handled our business.
"Obviously, there's a lot more to work on as well, so I think that's really exciting."
No matter which way Kiss decides to go at No. 10, both Donaldson and Meredith will be making their first run-on start against the Springboks. Donaldson has one appearance off the bench against Erasmus' team, but with South Africa having been jettisoned from Super Rugby in 2020, the Springboks' style of play is almost completely foreign to the Australian playmakers.
That reality only heightens the debate around Kiss' decision not to bring in either O'Connor or Japan-based Noah Lolesio, who helped fire the Wallabies to a memorable victory over the Springboks in Adelaide in 2022.
Lolesio is already back preparing with his club Toyota Industries Shuttles but would have been available for this Test under Regulation 9, which has allowed Jordan Petaia to link up with the Wallabies for the first time since the failed 2023 World Cup.
"I've only been here a day, so I'm trying to feel out the landscape, meet all the new coaches and learn everyone's names," Petaia said when asked about his prospects of playing.
"My main focus right now is just waking up, remembering names and learning the details. I'll worry about everything else later. I'm sure Kissy has an idea of what he sees for me, so I'm just here injecting myself every day and coming to learn."
Rather than try and compete with the AFL Grand Final as they have in seasons past, Rugby Australia has found some clean air for the Test with the Springboks.
While out of their control, last year's Bledisloe Cup Test kicked off in New Zealand while the AFL decider was still in play, limiting eyeballs on a clash that was only on Stan Sport to begin with.
But the Sunday timeslot should maximise sporting attention for the Wallabies, with the second NRL preliminary final scheduled for earlier in the day, too.
Kiss will name his team on Friday afternoon [AEST].