And after a "complicated" week in Edinburgh when frozen pitches limited their training options, coach Joe Schmidt was left grateful to his hosts for allowing them to have a run-out at Murrayfield on Friday.
The Wallabies are hoping to continue their hot form in the cold with Suaalii set for his biggest examination yet in the gold as he returns to start at outside centre for the third leg of their British Isles grand slam bid on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is back in Australia's starting line-up against Scotland. (AP PHOTO)
In a side featuring six changes from that which crushed Wales last Sunday, Schmidt will also hope for a touch of magic from Potter, the English-born back who will become Wallaby No.989 in the city where his fictional namesake was invented.
Schmidt has also shown faith in openside flanker Carlo Tizzano to step in for key forward Fraser McReight, who's getting a break after his 80-minute, 21-tackle shift against Wales.
"Forty years on, we'd love to emulate it, but we're not trying to emulate it," said Schmidt, when asked about the prospect of the Wallabies moving to within one win of matching the 1984 Wallabies' 'grand slam'.
"We're just trying to win this weekend and trying to have a good week's training, or a good week's preparation."
Easier said than done as plummeting temperatures disrupted preparations. "We've been quite limited in what we've done," admitted Schmidt.
"The grounds have been frozen but the Scottish Rugby Union were super today, they let us train at Murrayfield so we could actually get a session on the grass. We're very appreciative."
Schmidt says he has full confidence in offering chances to his squad, with 26-year-old utility back Potter being the 18th Wallabies debutant of 2024 on the left wing, replacing the benched Max Jorgensen.
It's a big moment for the Western Force's London-born Potter, who earned his spurs in England when starring in Leicester's Premiership title triumph.
"We're trying to let Max heal a bit. He's just a kid of 20, who's still growing into the game. He's an exciting young prospect, but we just thought Harry's played a lot in this hemisphere, and quite successfully, so it's a good opportunity to give him his first start," said Schmidt.
With Samu Kerevi's tour over after his red card against Wales, Len Ikitau will revert to the No.12 shirt with Suaalii at 13.
After his head injury, Jake Gordon returns to take over the scrum-half berth from Nic White.
Up front, Harry Wilson returns to the No.8 and the captaincy, while Tizzano comes in at seven and the tireless Rob Valetini moves to blindside flanker.
Jeremy Williams comes back into the second row in place of Nick Frost, who also put in a full shift, complete with galloping try, against Wales.
"They both played 80 minutes, and accumulated quite a bit of fatigue and a few knocks," said Schmidt, of McReight and Frost. "They're both okay.
"Carlo played both South African games and the two games in Argentina, he made 66 out of 67 tackles, got half a dozen turnovers and added value ... I think it's a vote of confidence for how Carlo went."
Prop Taniela Tupou was fit to play but has been left out as he continues to recover from a knee injury.
Wallabies team:
1 Angus Bell, 2 Matt Faessler, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Jeremy Williams, 5 Will Skelton, 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 8 Harry Wilson (capt), 9 Jake Gordon, 10 Noah Lolesio, 11 Harry Potter, 12 Len Ikitau, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 15 Tom Wright.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Max Jorgensen.
33°C