Cheika has also hinted at giving forgotten stars Will Genia and Quade Cooper more game time against the Barbarians on Sunday morning Australian time to trial new combinations.

Australian rugby could be dealt a blow after the World Cup next year, with former Test skipper James Horwill reportedly on the verge of a massive $550,000 per season deal with Harlequins.

The Mail on Sunday reported that Queensland Reds captain Horwill was all but certain to becomeone of two marquee players at the club.

Horwill is fighting to keep his place in the Wallabies line-up and Cheika will tinker with the side to play at Twickenham, opening the door for former captain Genia and playmaker Cooper to force their way back into the starting XV.

But while the NSW Waratahs mentor has a reputation as a hot head, Cheika said Wallabies success would be driven by respect rather than scare tactics.

"I've been fortunate that some people paint this picture that I'm some hard man," Cheika said.

"It serves me well when I need it, but I'm a person that grants respect straight away and it's there already. If we have that relationship, it will stay for ever.

"The key element is respect - them for me and me for them in what they do and respect of how we play the game. Maybe it will be a bit more nerve racking for some of the Waratahs guys because they'll see me in a light they haven't seen before.

"...We have to show unity from here on in every time we play for Australia."

Waratahs and Wallabies five-eighth Bernard Foley joked that some Test players were nervous meeting Cheika for the first time in Wallabies camp before flying to Sydney.

"There's a little bit of the unknown, we've got a new coach and have only been together for a couple of days," Foley said.

"There might be a few spanners in the works but we'll get over them, we'll have a good time and enjoy the tour.

"Cheik is very honest and upfront, he'll tell it how it is and that creates a good environment and culture."

Cooper and Genia are making their comebacks from injury and are expected to get game time against the Barbarians.

Only the NSW players in the Wallabies squad have trained under Cheika's watchful eye and the coach has given the squad time to recuperate before putting them to work.

Cooper had shoulder surgery in May and was recalled to the Wallabies bench or the last Bledisloe Cup match.

He was viewed as former Test coach Ewen McKenzie's preferred option as chief playmaker, but Cheika and Foley combined to lead the Waratahs to a historic Super Rugby championship earlier this year.

"It's always when you play for Australia ... going out to win every time, when you've got the option to select from the best players in Australia, even if you rotate the team, you're selecting from high quality," Cheika said.

"You've got guys like Will Genia and Quade Cooper who are mainstays of Australian rugby, that's a good thing. We'll give some guys a chance.

"We're not resting people, we're giving guys a chance to play themselves into the Test team."

Cheika admitted he was entering the unknown, declaring: "I'm nervous because I want to do the best I possibly can at this level."

Brumbies winger Henry Speight also looms as a likely inclusion for the clash against the Barbarians.

Fijian-born Speight has been forced to wait four years to become eligible to play for Australia after a drawn out battle with the IRB over a rule technicality.

Speight will likely take on former Wallabies winger Nick "The Honey Badger" Cummins. Cummins quit Australian rugby this year to sign a lucrative contract in Japan.

Cummins will play for the Barbarians alongside All Blacks Colin Slade and Matt Todd.

Melbourne flanker Sean McMahon could also get his first start for the Wallabies after a stellar year which included being named the Super Rugby rookie of the year, captaining the Australian under-20s and playing sevens at the Commonwealth Games.

"I'm just going to start to get involved, that's what I need to do as a young player ... I'm going in with an open mind and hopefully I get a chance to show my skills," McMahon said.

"[Cheika] just said to us to find our own formula."