Ben McCalman struggled with a groin issue against France © Getty Images

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Ben McCalman is hell-bent on using his new-found power against Argentina surviving on the Wallabies' fringes for four seasons, and the Western Force back-rower believes he's poised to produce career-best Test form in the Rugby Championship fixture on the Gold Coast after being selected ahead of Scott Higginbotham due to his toughness in close-quarters combat.

McCalman, 26, enjoyed a breakout Super Rugby season for the Force this year before a groin injury struck, benefitting from an enhanced gym program that gave him more leg drive and strength that saw him become one of the leading tackle-breakers in the competition.

But the groin strain, suffered in late May, taxed McCalman's power game, and he has taken almost four months to recover. He was still carrying the worsening problem when he started the dour 6-0 second Test win over France in June, but he still finished as leading tackler at Etihad Stadium.

With Wycliff Palu in form for New South Wales Waratahs, and Higginbotham providing an impact off the bench for Australia, McCalman was completely overlooked for the opening Rugby Championship clashes with New Zealand and South Africa. But he looks back at his omission with some positivity as it allowed him the rest and time in the gym to regain both strength and confidence he'll need to combat the confrontational Pumas pack.

"It's frustrating for me having that small injury throughout the year when I felt like I was playing my best footy," McCalman said. "I guess it's been a blessing in disguise these last four weeks not being picked and getting it strong again.Hopefully I can pick up where I finished in Super Rugby and do my best to remain in the team."

With the sidelined Palu expected back from concussion for the fixtures in South Africa and Argentina tour, McCalman needs a huge game to end his run of fleeting appearances. Not since starting 10 consecutive Tests after debuting in 2010 has he played more than three games in a row in a 32-match career that includes 15 caps off the bench.

McCalman doesn't have the brute force of 116kg Palu, nor the pace or X-factor of Higginbotham, but coach Ewen McKenzie is a big fan of his work-rate and all-round abilities. McCalman is 8kg lighter than Palu, but McKenzie says his output is similar in combative games against big, abrasive opponents.

"It's a like-for-like change," he said. "Benny has had to bide his time but he's always been near and dear in his attributes, particularly in the types of games we're playing at the moment."