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WILL Skelton's barnstorming form in Super Rugby has thrust him firmly into contention for the Wallabies squad, pitting him in a showdown with former skipper James Horwill for a starting berth.
The 22-year-old Skelton has been in superb form for the Waratahs, and in the past month has displayed a mix of physically imposing power and attacking finesse that makes him an ideal candidate to grow into Australia's commanding lock by next year's World Cup.
On Thursday, Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie will announce a 32-man squad to take on France next month, and his selections will also have a view to the World Cup.
At 203cm and 135kg, Skelton was considered too raw and underdeveloped for Wallabies consideration at the start of the year.
But his rapid improvement during this Super Rugby season has coincided with the patchy form of Wallabies starters Horwill and Queensland teammate Rob Simmons.
While McKenzie is expected to include both in his squad, the addition of Skelton would not merely be as a bench option.
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The Reds are floundering at the bottom of the Super Rugby ladder and all of their players are struggling with confidence.
With captain Ben Mowen not expected to be chosen after agreeing to join French club Montpellier at the end of the season, the Wallabies will lose their chief lineout caller.
Simmons is the back-up caller and that gives him an edge, while Waratahs captain Dave Dennis - who calls the lineout for NSW - will potentially be looked at as second-row cover.
It would create a situation where Skelton and Horwill battle for the other starting berth if Leinster-bound Kane Douglas is also overlooked.
Skelton is a strong presence in the scrum, which was a key attribute in the selection of Sitaleki Timani late last year before he joined Montpellier.
If Skelton, born in Auckland, is selected it would cap a remarkable rise for the youngster, who knocked back an offer to join the Blues by former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry to remain with the Waratahs.
McKenzie will be without star five-eighth Quade Cooper for at least the first two Tests after he suffered a collarbone injury in last Saturday's loss to Melbourne.
Nathan Charles (L) could be a shock inclusions ar hooker. Source: News Corp Australia
Matt Toomua is the likely back-up, with Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley also in the frame.
With three hookers to be included in the squad, Western Force's Nathan Charles shapes as a bolter.
Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau will be the preferred match-day hookers, but the race for the third spot is wide open, with Saia Fainga'a now a bench player at Queensland and starter James Hanson's claims as uninspiring as the Reds' form.
McKenzie will not name a captain on Thursday, but rather wait until the camp gathers in June.
This will avoid the farcical situation previously faced by the team when all of their named captains got injured before Tests.
With two more rounds of Super Rugby to come before the Wallabies go into camp, much could change - as witnessed by Cooper's injury last weekend.
But it also highlights how uncertain the Wallabies leadership is at present, with Australia lacking an authoritative figure like New Zealand's Richie McCaw, South Africa's Jean de Villiers, France's Thierry Dusautoir or Wales's Sam Warburton.
In contention for the Wallabies captaincy are Michael Hooper, Stephen Moore, Will Genia and Horwill, the latter two who have previously held the title.
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