ELEVEN years after his first Wallabies call-up by Eddie Jones, Leroy Houston is in the frame to finally make his Test debut.

Only this time the call-up is coming from Michael Cheika, with Jones in the enemy camp.

In an improbable turn of events, the 29-year-old back-rower is poised for a shock selection on Thursday in the Wallabies squad to play England in a three-Test series.

Former Wallaby and Rugby 360 host Greg Martin told Fox Sports News that England-based Houston was tipped to be named in Cheika’s squad before being unveiled for a Super Rugby return to the Reds.

“They reckon that Leroy Houston will be announced to play for the Reds on Friday but he’ll be announced in the (Wallabies) squad (on Thursday),” Martin said.

“He was nothing outstanding at that stage (playing for the Reds in 2011) and he’s been overseas for that long but apparently Cheik has a real liking for him and Houston’s under the impression that he’s going to be named in the Wallabies squad.

“So something may have been told to him, I don’t know...

“Michael Cheika loves a surprise, he’d love to surprise Eddie Jones, surprise the Australian public.”

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Bath’s Leroy Houston dives over the line to score a try in March, 2016. Source: Getty Images

That’s looking even more likely after reports emerged in the Bath Chronicle that “fan favourite” Houston is leaving the club to chase his dream of becoming a Wallaby.

Houston, who had one year left on his Bath contract, is expected to re-join the Queensland Reds.

“It’s one of my dreams to play international rugby,” Houston said in March. “If I could I’d love to.”

The New Zealand-born Houston moved to Australia in 2000 and was identified as a player of immense potential.

So much so that now-England coach Jones plucked him from obscurity as an 18-year-old project player for the Wallabies’ 2005 tour of Europe — before he’d even made his Super Rugby debut.

But the pressure of the spotlight told in 2006 when he got homesick, missed training sessions and a tour to South Africa before being cut from the Waratahs.

Houston spent a year working as a labourer before reigniting his rugby career and shaking off the “troubled” tag.

He played 46 games for the Reds between 2008-11 before embarking on a career in Europe with Bordeaux, Colomiers and Bath.

Cheika met with Houston during this year’s trip to Europe where he encouraged Australian players to make the move home.

Houston’s intimate knowledge of England’s personnel and playing style would be of great benefit to Cheika.

Leroy Houston at Reds training in 2011. Source: News Limited

Martin also expected outside backs Taqele Naiyaravoro, Karmichael Hunt and Dane Haylett-Petty to make the Wallabies cut, along with in-form Reds halfback Nick Frisby.

The Wallabies squad assembles in Caloundra on Monday to prepare for the first Test in Brisbane on June 11.

“There’s going to be a lot of changes,” Martin said.

“That’s in the 15, the 23 — because of the World Cup a lot of players won’t be coming back from England after that.

“And he’ll name a big squad — around 32, maybe even more.

“But there’s going to be surprises.

“Remember last year, Dean Mumm and Kane Douglas weren’t playing in Australia but got announced for the Wallabies...

“Remember Taqele Naiyaravoro — played on the wing for New South Wales last year, has been in Glasgow, he’s likely to be named as well.

“We’re short on wing stocks, there’ll be people like Karmichael Hunt, Dane Haylett-Petty, there’ll be a lot of new faces.

“Nick Frisby will probably be the reserve halfback...

“I reckon he’ll (Haylett-Petty) end up starting on the wing.

“I know he’s been used at fullback but I trust him, he’s been the best player at the Force all season.”

— Greg Martin hosts Rugby 360 on Fox Sports 502HD on Wednesday at 7.30pm