Rookie hookers to battle for Test berth
Australia's hooking options for the three-Test series against Ireland have played a combined 30 minutes of international rugby.
Their opponent, Rory Best? Just a casual 111 caps.
Whoever wins the selection battle for next Saturday night's opener in Brisbane will have a truly daunting task ahead of them.
But coach Michael Cheika is hopeful the youthful energy of Jordan Uelese, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Folau Fainga'a can spark something special as they jostle for a starting spot against the world's No.2-ranked side next month.
Most spots in the Wallabies team are settled, but hooker is the one position that is well and truly up for grabs following Stephen Moore's retirement and Cheika's decision to give Tatafu Polota-Nau a much-needed rest.
Uelese is the only one of the three candidates in Cheika's 33-man squad with Test match experience, having made two short cameos off the bench last year.
But he hasn't started a Super Rugby match for the Melbourne Rebels since March because of injury and has played far less rugby than the other two.
Paenga-Amosa has truly come from the clouds and was largely unknown before Brad Thorn gave him a chance in Queensland's front-row.
The 22-year-old has played every match so far this year for the Reds and, importantly, has shown Cheika he can keep well-credentialed rivals on a leash.
"I've seen Brandon go up against (South African hooker) Malcolm Marx and perform right at the level," Cheika said.
"For me, a guy who's come genuinely out of club rugby and then played NRC, was spotted by the Reds and has taken that opportunity with both hands, is a really, really good story for him.
"Now his challenge will be to get himself in the match 23 and from what I've heard about him and only having a small amount of contact with him, I'm sure he's going to do everything he can to be in that position."
Cheika said he also likes the "swagger" shown by Fainga'a in his debut campaign for the Brumbies.
"He's been playing between Scotty (Sio) and Allan (Alaalatoa) down in Canberra. Like his attitude," he said.
"Working with those two guys will help him understand the level that's required when he gets here."
Paenga-Amosa and Fainga'a are among five uncapped players in Cheika's squad, along with back-rower Caleb Timu and outside backs Tom Banks and Jack Maddocks.
They could yet be joined by another in Pete Samu, but New Zealand Rugby appears to be playing hard ball over the Crusaders forward and is yet to officially respond to a request from the Wallabies to release him.