The Western Force prop, who has signed to play for the Melbourne Rebels next season, last donned a gold jersey during Michael Cheika's first tour in charge in late 2014 against Ireland.

In only his second Test, after debuting against Wales in Cardiff, Faulkner came off the bench for 10 minutes in what he thought at one stage would be his last chance for his country.

That was until Cheika tapped Faulkner on the shoulder at Wallabies training this week in Buenos Aires to inform the 29-year-old he would be getting a chance off the bench this weekend against the Pumas.

"He just walked up to me and said: 'Mate, we're going to give you an opportunity this week'," Faulkner said. "At first I thought: 'Is he serious?' and they named the team and then it seemed real for me. To be putting the colours back on is quite exciting and I'm going to take it with both hands.

"2014 was the last time I got to put on the colours, so to be able to get it again is pretty exciting for myself and my family.

"Going through the Force [issues] this year was quite tough. Under the circumstances, I just enjoyed myself this year and it just showed on the field that I was enjoying myself. This moment right here is what I worked to. It's definitely a goal and I can't wait."

The Wallabies have named an unchanged starting XV to the one that took the field in Bloemfontein, with Faulkner and Henry Speight the only two changes on Australia's bench.

Ideally, Cheika wants to keep the same players together for the third and final Bledisloe Cup match in Brisbane on October 21, a fixture Faulkner said he would love to be a part of if he can have a decent cameo off the bench in Mendoza.

"That [a game against New Zealand] would be huge," said Faulkner, who was born in Tauranga before moving to Australia at age 12. "They're obviously the No.1 team in the world and that's where we want to be. We want to be there. If I do get that opportunity it would be huge. My family is All Blacks supporters, so to get one up over them and rub it into them would be exciting.

"Coming off the bench, he [Cheika] calls us the finishers and that's our job. We need to finish off the game and come on and make an impact."

Cheika added: "I just think he's done really well. He didn't expect to be up here at this stage and he's trained really well, he's done everything we could ask of him. He knows what he needs to do, here is his chance."

While Faulkner's teammates are enjoying the benefits of touring countries like South Africa and Argentina, the father of four is working behind the scenes to sort out his move back to Melbourne.

Faulkner has barely been in Perth since the Rugby Championship began, making the task of looking for a new home and organising school arrangements for his young children even more difficult.

His wife, Ashley, has been doing most of the heavy lifting and Faulkner is incredibly thankful for that.

However, when Faulkner sent a late night text message telling her about his Wallabies selection, 1050 days after his last game, his partner was over the moon.

"It was 11 or 12 at night, she was fast asleep with a newborn but as soon as I texted her she texted right back," Faulkner said. "[She was] super excited and said: '2014 was the last time you played, take this one with both hands and really enjoy it'.

"My wife and four kids are at home at the moment packing the house and I'm here in Argentina. We've applied for a few houses and hopefully we get them. It's hard at the moment trying to organise stuff from this side of the world but things are in place so I'm lucky enough to have family in Melbourne.

"We've had four or five days to enjoy the time off but I've got to pack the house. I want the kids to get used to their new school and surroundings so they have friends going into next year. [It will] make it a little bit easier for them."