Declan Meredith will start at No. 10 for the Wallabies in Bledisloe II, after Ben Donaldson was ruled out with a "minor upper leg injury".
Meredith will make his fourth Test start of the year at Accor Stadium on Saturday afternoon, after run-on appearances against France, Italy and Japan.
The Brumbies playmaker is one of five changes to Australia's starting side with Aidan Ross, Josh Nasser and Harry Potter also coming into the run-on XV.
"He's with his teammate for the Brumbies in Ryan [Lonergan] at No. 9, so that certainly helps," Kiss said of Meredith's promotion. "He's had a couple of Test matches earlier in the year, he's got a lot of trust in what he's got in this game, that's for sure.
"He takes the line on, good kicking game, very solid defender, [I'm] really looking forward to what he'll bring.
"Unfortunately, Donno has a slight upper leg injury. We just had to manage that out of him, out of the starting team, and that brings Harry McLaughlin off the bench for us, which is cool."
Kiss revealed Donaldson was still a chance of playing up until he warmed up for training on Thursday, at which point then the decision was made not to risk him.
Meanwhile, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has reverted to the No. 13 jersey to cover the loss of Len Ikitau, with Isaac Henry moving one spot closer in to No. 12.
The Wallabies were smashed 50-19 at Eden Park last week, a result that ensured the All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup into a 25th year.
But Australia were at least in the contest until halftime, when they trailed 17-14 and then butchered a gilt-edged try-scoring opportunity early in the second stanza, with coach Les Kiss calling on his troops to stay in the fight for longer in Sydney.
Donaldson was one of Australia's better performers in last week's crushing defeat, the fly-half setting up Harry Wilson's first-half try as part of an otherwise solid performance in his second Test start for the year. While his setback doesn't appear serious, it has robbed the Western Force playmaker of the chance to stake a claim for the Wallabies No. 10 jersey in the absence of Carter Gordon, who underwent a fitness test on Thursday in Sydney to gauge his preparedness for Australia's spring tour.
Kiss said Gordon had come through that well and was on track to see some action in the Wallabies' Nations Championship fixtures.
Meanwhile, Saturday's Test will also offer up a potential Test debut for Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, after he was included among the Wallabies replacements. He is joined on the bench by Kalani Thomas, who replaces the out-of-form Tate McDermott.
Australia's bench appears stronger this week, too, with Angus Bell to add impact alongside the recalled Billy Pollard and Carlo Tizzano, while Josh Canham returns after missing the last two Tests with a hamstring injury.
Asked whether he had considered bringing any of the hugely experienced Kurtley Beale, Bernard Foley or James O'Connor back into the fold, Kiss said he already knew what the veteran trio was capable of.
"I've spoken about that too, which is that experience is ready to pull on at any given time," the Wallabies coach said. "This is an opportunity for other guys to be feeling it, tasting what Test rugby's about, not only the playing environment but the training environment as well, and while we've got that opportunity, we'll use it. I've spoken to Kurtley a couple of times this week, he knows the role that he's got.
"And we've also got James O'Connor as well sitting there, Foley [too]. Those boys have been through the mill. We know what we can expect from them. They know what to expect in this environment.
"The other boys get a great chance just to learn what it's all about."
WALLABIES TEAM FOR BLEDISLOE II
Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Isaac Henry, Harry Potter, Declan Meredith, Ryan Lonergan; Harry Wilson [c], Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Jeremy Williams, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Nasser, Aidan Ross. Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Massimo De Lutiis, Josh Canham, Carlo Tizzano, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Filipo Daugunu.