Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has added an extra edge to training, with his players in the dark about his selection intentions for Australia's Tri-Nations opener against South Africa in Brisbane next Saturday.

Deans, who is notorious for giving nothing away where potential team changes are concerned, was at his secretive best this week when questioned about possible changes to the side to play the Springboks.

Benn Robinson and Stephen Moore are expected to fortify the front row, both returning after long-term injuries, but Deans has remained tight-lipped about the selectors' options for the game.

A number of outside backs are vying for the two wing spots while three uncapped forwards, backrowers Scott Higginbotham, Ben McCalman and lock Rob Simmons are pushing hard for places in the pack.

Deans has contributed to the air of mystery by mixing up forward and backline combinations at training in Sydney this week.

"I think there is an edge, everyone is vying for positions, there's no regularity to the team, different combinations every day," lock Dean Mumm said.

"You don't know what to expect and you are trying to work hard and provide an edge for you to get that spot that you so desperately want.

Mumm is under threat from highly-rated Reds youngster Simmons and acknowledged his form hadn't been great during the four home Tests last month.

"I didn't perform in that Test series earlier in the year, so it leaves the door open for someone else," Mumm said.

"I'm certainly not 100 per cent confident, but I desperately want to be there," added Mumm, who has been told by Deans to do more ball carrying.

Likewise fullback James O'Connor wasn't sure about retaining his spot, with Kurtley Beale, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Cameron Shepherd all in the mix.

One thing O'Connor was pretty certain about was the chosen fullback would be subjected to a bombing barrage by the Springboks.

"We're preparing for that, we're standing under the posts at training and 'Woody' (Wallabies skills coach Richard Graham) is putting up the best torpedoes he can," O'Connor said.

Scrum guru Patricio Noriega has lauded the efforts of the cluster of young front rowers who were subjected to a fiery Test baptism by England last month.

After being pushed back in the two Tests, the youngsters fought back well in the one-off clash with Ireland.

"I'm very happy with the way they performed on the field and off the field," Noriega said.

"They are a great bunch of kids and they are keen to learn. They concentrated on the simplicity I tried to transfer to them and they picked it up very quickly."

Prop Ben Daley, one of five bookends blooded last month, said the Test rookies had learnt a lot from their torrid initiation against England.

"It was a bit of a crash course for us but we came through in the end and we are looking at moving forward," Daley said.

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