"Tongan Thor" is to give the struggling Wallabies a startling superhero lift with his formidable 134kg frame set to go on tour to Europe.
Taniela Tupou is just 20 with only three cameo appearances for the Queensland Reds but the sky is the limit for the most dynamic young propin the country.
Wallabies boss Michael Cheika may have another bolter up his sleeve on Tuesday with 19-year-old Queensland winger Izaia Perese also a big chance of a spot in the squad.
If the duo are taken on tour, their sole target would be the Australia A clash against the French Barbarians in Bordeaux on November 24, rather than any of the five Tests.
It would be Cheika's method to blood two excellent young talents in a non-national rep game and see how they operate in the Wallabies environment, before flying them home.
Cheika is also weighing up the involvement of code-hopping Melbourne Storm winger Marika Koroibete, who may take a bigger role on tour straight out of the NRL.
However it works, it would be a huge vote of confidence in Tupou, his explosive, bumping power as a ballrunner and his improvement as a scrummager.
Taniela has been a sensation since joing the Queensland Reds. Photo / via YouTube
The Reds deserve huge credit for the care they have taken with his measured education since he landed late in 2014 as a shy Tongan youth with a stellar highlights reel from his Auckland school.
His jaw-dropping demolition job on University for Brothers in the club semi-finals in August showed his potential - nine dominant ball-carries, 10 tackle busts and a smashing try.
Perese would be the definitive bolter because he has never played Super Rugby.
Sidelined with knee issues for much of the year, he was a revelation for Queensland Country in the National Rugby Championship.
He scored four tries but his eye-catching ability was the fearless way he darted and stepped into heavy traffic or open space to beat a competition-high 36 defenders.
He is only 90kg but he has a knack in a position that needs more depth.
The Wallabies will be minus one backrower for the opening tour Test against Wales in Cardiff on November 5, with Dean Mumm suspended for one week for striking.
Mumm was cited for his left elbow lift that struck All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick behind him in the second half of last weekend's 37-10 loss in Auckland.
