Just four weeks ago Lachie Turner was thinking of nothing more than securing the NSW Shute Shield premiership with club team Eastwood.

Instead Turner now finds himself back in the Wallabies fold, preparing to make his first Test appearance in almost a year after being named on the wing for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup match against the All Blacks in Sydney.

Turner was the only change from the starting team which ended Australia's 47-year highveldt hoodoo with a 41-39 win over South Africa in Bloemfontein last weekend, coming into coach Robbie Deans' team in place of injured winger Drew Mitchell (hamstring).

And while he's sad to go missing at a crucial period for the Eastwood teammates who have gone a long way to reigniting his career, he thinks they might understand.

"It was a bit disappointing in some respects not to be there to help the guys and I'd love to go through to the grand final with them but I'm pretty happy to be playing for my country to be honest with you," Turner told reporters on Thursday.

The 23-year-old found himself back in club rugby after missing selection for the first seven Tests of the year and not originally being named in the Tri-Nations squad.

But injuries to Peter Hynes and Cameron Shepherd opened up a spot on the plane to South Africa and Deans says he's been impressed by the way Turner responded to the disappointment of not originally being selected.

"He's been playing club rugby consistently and there's no doubt he's enjoyed that," Deans said.

"It hasn't been straightforward, he's been doing all the things rugby players do from week-to-week, getting his nose broken and mixing it.

"He's just enjoyed playing the game consistently and I've got no doubt he's better for that time."

After admitting he felt his 11-Test career may have been over Turner is adamant now he's back in the set-up he's not going to go back to being `just a club rugby player', no matter how enjoyable the experience was.

"I've worked hard and I'm glad that I'm getting that shot and that's the biggest thing for me," he said.

"I feel I'm ready to get out there and hopefully put a solid performance on the field ... (so that) next time there's a selection (I) make it hard to leave me out.

"Here's hoping on Saturday night that I get the opportunity to really show Robbie and everybody that I've grown over the last little while and my game's pushed forward."

The only other change for the Wallabies on Saturday night comes on the bench, with Huia Edmonds replacing suspended Saia Faingaa as the reserve hooker.

But it's a different story for the All Blacks, who have made five changes from the team which defeated South Africa 29-22 in Soweto last month.

Young five-eighth Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu and Owen Franks all come in, with Dan Carter, Joe Rokocoko, Jerome Kaino, Jimmy Cowan and Ben Franks the men to make way.

Not that Deans was surprised by his opposite number Graham Henry's chopping and changing.

"We anticipated that," he said.

"You've seen through their performance all year all of those blokes have had rugby, they haven't affected the momentum of the team, of the group, so it's neither here nor there."

Wallabies (from fullback): Kurtley Beale, James O'Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Lachie Turner, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (capt), Nathan Sharpe, Mark Chisholm, Salesi Ma'afu, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Res: Huia Edmonds, James Slipper, Dean Mumm, Richard Brown, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Anthony Faingaa.

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