JAMES O'CONNOR will play at No.12 outside Danny Cipriani for the Melbourne Rebels next year, confirming his likely role for the Wallabies on the spring tour which begins next week.

While Robbie Deans and co will only confirm that Berrick Barnes and O'Connor will combine in the midfield, Barnes is likely to play both matches at No.10 as officials give him an opportunity to rediscover the form that earned him the Australian vice-captaincy and first choice five-eighth selection in 2009.

Inside man … James O'Connor is expected to line up at No.12. Credit:Getty Images

In at least one of the tour matches O'Connor will get his first opportunity on the world stage as a No.12, the position he has been training in for the Rebels.

''That was one of the main reasons I wanted to move down to Melbourne,'' O'Connor said.