Gamebreaker Digby Ioane has urged the Wallabies to hit the ground running and "make a statement" to their World Cup rivals in Australia's season-opening rugby Test against Samoa on Sunday.

Ioane, of Samoan heritage, is the only triumphant Queensland player starting after pleading with coach Robbie Deans to let him back up from the Reds' Super Rugby final triumph over the Crusaders last Saturday.

The explosive Wellington-born winger is not only desperate to showcase his skills against the Pacific Island nation for which two of his cousins have previously represented, but also lock down a regular starting berth seven weeks out from the World Cup.

"That's why I put my hand up. I was excited to get the opportunity to play against my own people," Ioane told AAP on Friday.

"I'm pretty keen to play against the Samoan team.

"Plus you want to impress to keep your spot. There's no favours for anyone, so everyone's up for the challenge where you've got to fight for your spot."

While the Wallabies' top priority is to blow out the cobwebs and launch their 2011 international campaign with a victory - be it ugly or otherwise - Ioane believes it's important to make a stylish start.

"You've got to make the first statement," he said.

"For the Wallabies this game, it's going to be full-on. It will be a lead-up for next week's (Tri Nations) game against South Africa. Everyone's focused."

No-one is more focused than Adam Ashley-Cooper, who returns to his preferred outside centre position after a quiet Super Rugby season mostly on the wing for the under-achieving Brumbies.

Ashley-Cooper is busting to deliver and also knows the pressure is on to perform after coach Deans named a 40-man squad for the Samoan challenge and upcoming Tri Nations campaign that will be trimmed to 30 for the World Cup.

"Individually, I think everyone's got something to prove," he said.

"I guess with the success of so many players this year in the Super 15, there were always going to be a lot of good players who missed out on this selection.

"So there will be a lot of guys doing their best this weekend to either hold their position or cement their position in the squad moving forward.

"My selection at 13 this week excites me because it just gives me an opportunity to get back into the centres and get a bit more ball in my hands.

"I enjoy the confrontation of playing in the midfield and I guess I'm lucky and fortunate enough that I'm playing outside Patty McCabe and Gits (Matt Giteau), who I've had the opportunity of playing outside all year.

"I didn't have a standout year or any standout performances down there (with the Brumbies), so I'm really excited by the fact that I'm here with a new team with a new start to get a new performance going.

"I've played my best football here with the Wallabies. Most of the guys in the squad have. The opportunity to represent your country, you naturally step it up."

Western Force prop Pek Cowan, meanwhile, was on Friday added to the Wallabies bench following Tuesday's year-ending knee injury to star loosehead Benn Robinson.

Cowan's inclusion gives the Wallabies a 5-2 split of forwards and backs on among the substitutes.

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