A Lisfranc injury limited Petaia to two Super Rugby matches this year and when he picked up a different hamstring injury during Wallabies camp in Noumea recently,it meant he was deprived of the chance to make a Test debut on home soil against Samoa.

It is remarkable to think his third professional match of 2019 will be at a World Cup,such is the hype around the only player in the Wallabies squad born this century.

"He’s definitely ready for it,"Cheika said. “There’s not that many guys that get to make their debut in a World Cup,so he is blessed with the opportunity. He’s a fine young man and he’ll take the opportunity with both hands,that’s for sure.

“He is feeling very comfortable around his teammates,even though he’ll probably be carrying[team mascot] Wally for quite a while because he is such a young fella. He’s been around a bit.”

Petaia comes onto the wing at the expense of Marika Koroibetein a Wallabies side with 13 changes to the one that suffered a 29-25 loss to Wales.

Captain Michael Hooper and prop Allan Alaalatoa are the only players to be named in the same positions as last week.

A debut against Uruguay,ranked 18th in the world,could not be better for Petaia,who used to watch close family friend Matt Toomua play rugby when he was a kid. Now the pair get to line up alongside one another in an Indigenous Wallabies jersey in a proud moment for both their families.

“It's pretty cool we get to do it on this stage in a World Cup,” Toomua said."It's ironic,he calls me ‘Pup’ and he's 10 years younger than me,but such is the modern day. It's amazing what he has done and the feat he has been able to achieve.

"Athletically he is a big boy … and he is just as competent on both sides of the ball,attack and defence. It’s not often you say that about young guys. They might have a wicked sidestep or something,but I think Jordy likes getting in the rough and tumble stuff,which is brilliant. It is probably a lot of the reason why the coaches have shown a lot of faith in him at a World Cup and with the high stakes and that. He doesn’t have a glaring weakness,which is great for a young guy.”

The Wallabies have a rest day on Thursday and will travel to Oita,the venue of their third pool match,and all Petaia has to do is get through a captain's run on Friday to realise his dream.

You can safely bet he'll be wrapped in cotton wool.