Veteran Rob Simmons steps in and the vigour he showed in the upset of the All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium a year ago is what is needed again for the Wallabies.
Speedster "Super Sefa" has won his first Test opportunity in 16 months to fill the hole left on the wing because Folau has been switched to outside centre on a fill-in basis.
Naivalu has the fastest wheels in the Wallabies backline and showed them too with two tries against Italy in Brisbane last year before a cruel ankle injury forced him off during the Test.
He has watched Marika Koroibete, Henry Speight, Reece Hodge, Jack Maddocks, Dane Haylett-Petty and Folau play wing for the Wallabies since so it has been a concerted rise through the pack to find a spot again.
Folau is confident he can handle the heat of the All Blacks' attack in Yokohama on Saturday after being selected at outside centre for the first time for his 70th Test.
All week, it has looked certain that the winger-fullback would be thrust into the No.13 jersey for the first time and Cheika confirmed it.
"It probably hasn't changed too much from the role I've been given for past the month or so playing for the Wallabies," Folau said.
"I've been attacking there at 13 anyway.
"I'm confident in having to defend there up front and those experiences (doing it) in rugby league certainly help at times like these.
"The most important thing for me is to make sure I'm on the same page as guys like (inside centre) Kurtley (Beale) and the wingers outside me so we are staying connected in defence."
Folau knows he'll have his hands full with All Blacks centre pair Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty.
"A guy like Sonny Bill, with his size and skill set, will automatically attract numbers straight away," Folau said.
"You have him and then (Beauden) Barrett at 10.
"It's all about that good connection within the midfield for us. No matter the decision we make on the field, we need to do it all together."
With Reece Hodge and Tevita Kuridrani injured, the smart call has been made for top outside centre Samu Kerevi to make his comeback off the bench.
The 21-Test force has played just two games of sevens in Byron Bay in the three months since bicep and wrist tendon surgery grounded him and said this week he was good for "strong 30 minutes."
Cheika has elected for tweaks elsewhere in his side as the Wallabies search for a season high spot after the numbing back-to-back losses to the All Blacks in August.
Allan Alaalatoa has been restored as starting tighthead prop which makes sense after his high-impact second half of direct running and assertive defence in the brilliant comeback to beat Argentina in Salta.
It means Taniela Tupou shifting to the bench. It is no cause for outcry because Tupou's impact has been somewhat muted as a starter for two Tests where he's been solid at scrum-time but down on influence as a ball-carrier in Australia's two slow-start Tests.
Backrower Jack Dempsey has been included among eight reserves but Cheika will cut that by one on Friday so he not yet certain to make a return from his long-term hamstring injury.
Just getting this close is inspiring but it would be a real gamble to go into this Test with two rusty bench players, Kerevi and Dempsey, returning from long layoffs.
Wallabies:
1. Scott Sio
2. Folau Faingaa
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Izack Rodda
5. Rob Simmons
6. Ned Hanigan
7. Michael Hooper (c)
8. David Pocock
9. Will Genia
10. Bernard Foley
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Kurtley Beale
13. Israel Folau
14. Sefa Naivalu
15. Dane Haylett-Petty
Reserves (one to be omitted)
16. Tolu Latu
17. Sekope Kepu
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Rory Arnold
20. Jack Dempsey
21. Pete Samu
22. Nick Phipps
23. Samu Kerevi
24. Tom Banks
