McCalman feared his year was over when he injured his shoulder in the Wallabies' loss to South Africa in Cape Town last month.

But the Western Force star has recovered to join the team on a five-game spring tour of Europe and says Cheika has wasted no time increasing the aggression in the Wallabies pack.

Australia will start its tour with a clash against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday morning Australian time.

"It's just about being consistent every time ... not carrying it hard one time and then slacking off the next," McCalman said of Cheika's approach.

"It's about having a lot of purpose every time you do something and trying to be more efficient in the way we play, those are probably the biggest things I've noticed so far."

Cheika will name his first team as Wallabies coach on Thursday.

They will line-up against the likes of former Wallaby Nick Cummins, All Blacks Colin Slade and Tim Nanai-Williams and South Africans Heinrich Brussow and Jacques Botes.

Cummins was granted a release from the Western Force on compassionate grounds this year to take up a lucrative contract in Japan.

"I'm very excited [to play Cummins]. Last year he came out to my farm and helped out with some work back there so to see him on the other side of the world is very exciting," McCalman said.

"I've never played against him so it should be pretty fun.

"He's great to play with and he had off-field importance as well ... bringing enjoyment back to the game. It was a big loss and it would be great to see him back in Australian rugby one day."

Halfback Will Genia is also in contention for a Wallabies recall for the first time this year.

Genia said Cheika was genuine in his approach to the coaching job.

"And the one thing [Cheika] has brought to the team is a sense of physicality," Genia said.

"It's something that was successful at the [NSW] Waratahs and he's passionate about it. He's been stuck into the boys about having that physicality and having that presence at Test level."