Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has hedged his bets while making sweeping changes to the team to play Italy, with many senior players retained in a lineup featuring wingers at opposite ends of the experience spectrum.

Reds rookie Jordan Petaia, 18, will become the third youngest Wallaby after being named on the left wing for Sunday’s (1am AEDT) clash in Padua, while Adam Ashley-Cooper, 34, will play his first Test since 2016 on the right.

In his 117th international, Ashley-Cooper will overtake Nathan Sharpe as the third most capped Wallaby of all time.

Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon has been named to make his Test debut, with Will Genia on the bench as insurance.

WALLABIES (15-1): Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Samu Kerevi, Bernard Foley, Jordan Petaia, Matt Toomua, Jake Gordon, David Pocock, Michael Hooper (c), Jack Dempsey, Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Folau Fainga’a, Scott Sio

Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Jermaine Ainsley, Sekope Kepu, Rory Arnold, Pete Samu, Will Genia, Kurtley Beale, Dane Haylett-Petty

Wallabies rookie Jordan Petaia on tour in Japan with team mascot Wally. Source: Instagram

Inside centre Kurtley Beale has also been included among the reserves, with Matt Toomua and Bernard Foley steering the backline at No 10 and 12 respectively.

If that partnership clicks it may well be retained for the season ending November 25 (AEDT) clash against England at Twickenham, with Beale out of sorts against Wales.

Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa, Sefa Naivalu, Rob Simmons, Ned Hanigan and Nick Phipps — who were all in the squad that lost to Wales last weekend — have been omitted from Cheika’s 23.

Australia, ranked seventh in the world, has never lost to Italy, who are 14th on the global pecking order.

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Pocock backs Hooper's calls 1:15

But Cheika has shown the Italians respect by naming captain Michael Hooper and No 8 David Pocock — a surprise to former Wallabies coach John Connolly, who tipped they would be rested when previewing the team announcement on the Fox Rugby Podcast.

“You’ve got England the week after, you’ve got to work out who your next 10 is, you’ve got to give the next halfback a go — I would expect him to do a lot of changing,” Connolly said.

“The people you can’t afford to get hurt are Hooper and Pocock, I suppose, so they’ll probably be rested.

“We’ve got a very even lot of players at the moment, in most positions, you’ve got your couple of stars but it’s pretty even in a few of the others.

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Jake Gordon of Australia releases a pass during a training session at Llanwern High School. Source: Getty Images

“I would expect him to make 10 or 11 changes, with a real focus on England and thinking that we should put Italy away.

“They’ve struggled badly... you wouldn’t be over confident — but if we play to our ability we should put Italy away comfortably.”

The strapping Petaia — who joins Ashley-Cooper and fullback Israel Folau in a revamped back three — is an exciting selection for what will surely be the start of a long Test career.

He will sit behind only Brian Ford (18 years, 90 days) and James O’Connor (18 years, 126 days) as the youngest Wallaby.

Gordon also deserves his shot to see if he can cut it at Test level.

There is no questioning his sharp running game but the Wallabies coaching staff will be looking for crisp passing and sound decision making.

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