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After starting the year as Tate McDermott’s understudy at the Queensland Reds, Kalani Thomas is set to finish the year in his Wallabies jersey.

In a remarkable rise, the 23-year-old is poised to become Wallaby 995 after being included in Joe Schmidt’s side to take on Les Bleus at the Stade de France on Sunday (7:10am AEDT), The Roar understands.

It’s believed Thomas will act as Jake Gordon’s cover, with Ryan Lonergan dumped. It comes after Lonergan, who has won almost 100 caps for the Brumbies, was sparingly used by Schmidt across the Wallabies’ five-Test end-of-year tour.

Schmidt is set to recall fit-again Carter Gordon to the starting side after missing the 46-19 defeat to Ireland in Dublin last week due to a quad issue.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt in discussion with Carter Gordon and Tane Edmed (R). Photo: Julius Dimataga, Rugby Australia

Dylan Pietsch is also set to start ahead of Filipo Daugunu, with the versatile Reds back dropped to the bench. Andrew Kellaway has been left out.

It’s believed World Rugby breakout star nominee Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will continue to wear the No.13 jersey despite calls to shift the Wallabies’ poster boy to the back three.

After last week’s lineout struggles, Nick Frost will return to the second-row. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, however, remains on the outer despite the Wallabies missing an enforcer in the absence of Will Skelton.

His return is set to see Tom Hooper return to his preferred position at blindside flanker. Rob Valetini will come off the bench.

The Wallabies head to Stade de France as heavy outsiders after dropping six of their past seven Tests.

Another loss in Paris would see the Wallabies sink to a new low, having never lost ten Tests in a calendar year.

Despite their wretched run, the eighth-ranked Wallabies could still move into sixth spot on the World Rugby rankings if they beat France by 16 points or more.

Schmidt will unveil his side at 11:30pm AEDT.

Should Thomas get on the field, the Reds regular will be the fifth halfback to play for the Wallabies in 2025.

His rapid rise to the Wallabies comes after the retirement of Nic White and long-term leg injury to McDermott.

While many thought Teddy Wilson was next in line, Thomas’ selection in Schmidt’s Spring Tour squad came after playing in Les Kiss’ led AUNZ Inititational side against the British and Irish Lions in Adelaide.

Thomas struggled in the fixture, but his selection came off the back of his best season in red for Queensland, where he also brought up 50 Super Rugby matches for the franchise.

The decision to keep Suaalii in the midfield will likely raise as many eyebrows, especially given the aerial assault headed for the Wallabies in the French capital.

After struggling in the air all tour, Suaalii – 196cm athletic back, who is one of the best in the air currently plying their trade in Australia – represented an opportunity to change the picture.

But Schmidt hasn’t budged despite the threat of flying Les Bleus winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who has 18 tries in 21 Tests and was on Tuesday nominated for World Rugby player of the year alongside Springboks trio Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Pieter-Steph du Toit.

It’s not just the 22-year-old’s speed that will present a concern for the Wallabies, but his work in the air with the Bordeaux flyer arguably the best in the world in the air.

Indeed, Bielle-Biarrey beat the Springboks twice in the air in Paris and was one of the biggest threats despite their second-half capitulation.