Moore, who has played 105 tests and has been a great servant of Australian rugby, is in danger of becoming the weak link of this Wallabies team, and Cheika should have added quickly and decisively after the June whitewash at the hands of his former teammate Eddie Jones.
By comparison, All Blacks skipper Kieran Read played every minute of the three tests in the victories over Wales in June - even in Dunedin, the most clear-cut of the margins, when his side ran out 46-6 victors.
All Blacks hooker Coles, unavailable for tonight's match in Sydney due to a rib injury, was replaced in all three tests against Wales, but not until the 71st, 75th and 71st minutes respectively in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin.
Loose forwards Michael Hooper and David Pocock loom as captaincy alternatives for Cheika. Pocock would be the best fit.
Another issue for the Wallabies in June was their ability to get on the wrong side of the referee. For whatever reason, Moore struggled to find common ground and there is a suspicion Hooper, the Waratahs captain and a former skipper of Australia, lacks maturity to consistently lead a test side.
Hooper was seen in the third test against England at Melbourne's AAMI Park throwing sand from the appalling pitch in the direction of loose forward opponent James Haskell during a scrum, a bizarre act against the spirit of the game.
By contrast, Pocock, 28, appeals as a player with a strong moral compass and leadership ability.
A victory for the Wallabies tonight will merely serve to paper of the cracks as far as Moore is concerned. A defeat should put the spotlight on Moore, and for Australia's sake, a change can't come quickly enough.