Former Wallabies flyhalf Berrick Barnes expects classy playmaker Carter Gordon to embrace a "new lease on life" in his second coming in the Test arena.

Gordon has been rushed back into the Australian squad to face Japan in Tokyo on Saturday before heading to Europe for Tests against England, Italy, Ireland and France.

His return to rugby comes after a stint in the NRL with Gold Coast, which was restricted to one match due to a career-threatening spinal injury.

Barnes is back on home turf in Brisbane as backs coach of Japanese club side Saitama Wild Knights, who will face his former Super Rugby side Queensland in a friendly on Saturday.

But the 39-year-old, who also played for the Brisbane Broncos before his own code switch, knows Gordon well after being part of Eddie Jones's coaching s

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