Rugby's Mr Versatile Adam Ashley-Cooper will attempt to finally lock down a specialist position in the Wallabies backline by emulating peerless fullback Mils Muliaina's Springbok-busting efforts at Suncorp Stadium.

Ashley-Cooper, switched from wing to his preferred No.15 jersey for Australia's crucial Tri-Nations opener, is intent on a run-and-stun counter-attacking game on Saturday night.

The 26-year-old utility back promised to take a leaf out of All Blacks fullback Muliaina's book by "having a crack" at South Africa's kick-chase defence.

Muliaina consistently stepped past and shrugged off chasing Springbok defenders to put New Zealand on the front foot time and again in their opening 32-12 and 31-17 tournament wins at home.

The tactics stunned the reigning champions who dominated last year's tournament through their superior kicking, field-position game.

"Instead of getting into that kicking duel what Mils did was change it up and obviously just attacked and he attacked from everywhere on the park," Ashley-Cooper said on Thursday.

"The Springboks weren't expecting that so it's something I've definitely noticed and recognised and something I'll be doing on Saturday night.

"Just be decisive as Mils was. He made a decision early and went through with it.

"He's who I regard as the best fullback in the world at the moment."

The desperate South Africans have since done their homework and vice-captain Victor Matfield has stressed they must improve in all areas, particularly their tackling.

"I think the two areas we definitely had a look at is the breakdown and our defence and hopefully that will be better," he said.

They must also contain 98kg Ashley-Cooper's powerful frame.

His size and versatility has seen him start in five different positions in his 40-Test career over five years but he felt he'd finally found his home at No.15 during last year's Grand Slam tour.

But injury last month against Fiji and coach Robbie Deans' enthusiasm for James O'Connor to step up and "drive the back three" again saw him shifted to the wing.

With big-kicking Springboks flyhalf Morne Steyn sure to pepper Ashley Cooper with high balls and opportunities to counter-attack, he sees Saturday night as a perfect chance to nail down fullback.

"I guess I have been thrown around the backline but where I enjoy it the most is 15," he said.

"The high ball is something I pride myself on and it's something I've addressed in the last couple of years and I'm very comfortable with how I've been going."

An infectious character, Ashley-Cooper highlighted his on-field enthusiasm in last year's 21-6 victory over the Boks in Brisbane by hugging first-row fans after scoring the game-breaking try.

"You draw a lot of energy from that crowd, because it is a special crowd and there's a good atmosphere and I'll probably end up in the third row rather than the first (if he scores on Saturday)."

The Wallabies suffered a minor blow on Thursday with reserve flanker Matt Hodgson ruled out with a groin injury and his uncapped Western Force teammate Ben McCalman called on to the bench.

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