Wary of a smarting Eddie Jones, the Wallabies are bracing for another "ferocious" Test against a Brave Blossoms outfit licking their lips at the prospect of a high-octane points-fest in Townsville.
The Wallabies will be without injured attacking trump Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii when Jones' Japanese look to atone for a 35-32 first-Test defeat in Osaka.
Jones had hoped his dynamic side would run the Wallabies off their feet before a heatwave stifled his plan last Saturday night.
But the wily mentor is relishing the chance for Japan's slick backline to showcase their talents on a fast and dry pitch at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, which produced a 94-point NRL extravaganza only two weeks ago between the North Queensland Cowboys and Sydney Roosters.
"We've got a huge challenge this week against the Japanese. They're a great team," Wallabies prop Angus Bell said on Wednesday.
"They've got some super individuals too, big physical forwards and really, really quick and some physical backs.
"I'm sure Eddie's got different things that he wants to try and we've got things we need to fix too."
Jones returned for a second stint as Japan coach after a disastrous second coming as Wallabies boss in 2023, when Australia failed to progress out of the group stages of a Rugby World Cup for the first time.
The 66-year-old hasn't forgotten about being branded the scapegoat for the Wallabies' flop, this week claiming it was "convenient" to blame him.
Jones would love nothing more than to mastermind a first-ever Brave Blossoms victory over the Wallabies, especially on Australian soil on Saturday.
Adding to the Wallabies' challenge is being without Suaalii, who has been ruled out with another hamstring injury.
Teammates are remaining tight-lipped about who will deputise for the code-hopping superstar at outside centre.
But it seems almost certain the Wallabies will unleash an-all Queensland midfield.
Reds playmaker Carter Gordon is set to return from a calf injury to start at flyhalf, with Isaac Henry and Josh Flook the favourites to partner Hunter Paisami in the centres.
Coach Les Kiss could also call on Filipo Daugunu to play 13.
"They haven't confirmed that til tomorrow," Paisami said on Wednesday.
"We've tried a lot of combinations this week, obviously with 'Flooky', Filippo, Isaac there as well. It's always good having those familiar connections from the Reds.
"But whoever's in that 12 and 13 jersey, we just know that they will do a job for the boys and for the jersey."