Even the accolade of being named Australia's player of the year wasn't enough to save David Lyons from the irresistible form of John Roe who knocked him out of the Wallabies' starting 15 for Saturday's tour opening Test against Scotland.

Lyons was dropped to the bench for the Murrayfield Test to make way for Queenslander Roe who will earn his sixth cap and first in the starting side after some powerful performances as an impact player this year.

In two other changes to the run on side which lost to South Africa on August 21, second rower Daniel Vickerman was promoted from the bench to replace the injured Nathan Sharpe and rejuvenated hooker Jeremy Paul exchanged his place among the replacements with Brendan Cannon.

Elton Flatley and Mat Rogers are back on the bench after missing the entire domestic Test season through injury while ACT second rower Mark Chisholm is in line for his first cap after also being named as a replacement.

Lyons has started all 15 Tests at No.8 since Toutai Kefu's injury-enforced retirement in August last year and won the John Eales Medal as Australia's best player of the last 12 months mostly on the back of his powerhouse form at the World Cup.

But his form this year was a little erratic while Roe took major strides when he came on in the last three Tri-Nations Tests and coach Eddie Jones said last month the 27-year-old medical student had made up plenty of ground on Lyons.

Vickerman's recall into the starting side comes almost 12 months to the day since he was dropped from the 22 after the World Cup quarter-final against Scotland last year.

The towering South African-born second rower missed the World Cup semi and final but fought his way back to come off the bench in all eight Tests this year and was handed a chance on this tour when vice-captain Sharpe's shoulder injury kept him at home.

"I'd missed out on the 22 for the last two games of the World Cup, which was disappointing so it was extremely positive to be back in the squad this year and I enjoyed being part of the 22 again," Vickerman said.

"I learned a lot from the World Cup. I learned how to deal with the disappointment and getting on with the job and putting your head down and working for something you want and regained a spot.

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