Queensland pair have Suaalii under pressure to retain midfield role

Hunter Paisami is hungry for a hometown farewell as calls mount for Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to switch to the wing under new Wallabies coach Les Kiss.

With Len Ikitau (ankle) injured, the pair formed the midfield partnership in Australia’s hard-fought 35-32 defeat of Japan in Osaka on Saturday.

Paisami, who was coached by Kiss at the Queensland Reds for the last three seasons, made the most of his call-up as one of the side’s best starters alongside impressive lock Josh Canham.

The 28-year-old will head to Japan next season to play his club football.

But, ahead of a Japan rematch in Townsville on Saturday and next year’s World Cup, Kiss’s selections for his first Test in charge were perhaps foreshadowing that he remains firmly in the picture.

Debutant Isaac Henry, primarily a centre, was picked on the bench and pushed outside centre Suaalii to the wing when he entered the fray in the final 10 minutes.

Ever since Suaalii’s switch from the NRL two years ago there has been debate over his best position.

Kiss said ahead of the Japan Test that he would be “persisting at 13 with him at this stage” but noted his ability to play both wing and fullback.

Ahead of the rematch with Eddie Jones’ Japan, two-time World Cup-winning Wallaby centre Tim Horan renewed the push for the move, saying Suaalii was “wasted” in the centres.

Kiss, himself a former Australian and Queensland rugby league winger, won’t have Ikitau in Townsville but could deploy Reds teammates Henry and Paisami in the midfield and push Suaalii to the wing.

Paisami, who told AAP before Saturday’s game he was playing every Test like it could be his last, said the competition for a centre spot was driving them all.

The squad flew home on Sunday and will prepare in Brisbane before flying north on Thursday.

“It would be massive to get that opportunity (to play) again,” Paisami, who made some trademark bone-crunching tackles in Osaka, said of playing in Queensland again before his shift to Japan.

“Always hungry and in this environment it’s very competitive; we’ve got some quality centres out there.

“The more we compete, the better we get as a team.”

Horan has also called for Carter Gordon’s return at No.10 after the flyhalf, fit after missing two Tests with a leg injury, ran water in Osaka and Declan Meredith made his third-straight start.

Tom Hooper (shoulder), able to play in the second row or as a flanker, will also return to the squad in Townsville with lock Miles Amatosero awaiting his punishment for a red card in Osaka.

There were no injuries in Osaka but Kiss has flagged the likelihood of more changes – he made four to the starting side in his first Test in charge – as he looks at his options and assess the toll taken in hot Japanese conditions.