Wallaby flyhalf Quade Cooper has confirmed he is mulling over a move to Rugby League to link up with good friend Sonny Bill Williams.

Cooper said the prospect of playing alongside the mercurial Williams, who will return to Rugby League next year following his stint in Japan, rather than switching codes is what is tempting him to make the move to the NRL.

"We've definitely had a chat about it and it's more about playing with each other," Cooper told Fox Sports.

"It's something that I'd really like to do in the future.

"And seeing what he's [Williams] done in rugby, and having a talent like that in and around you would be a massive achievement to play with. Whether it'd be in rugby or league it'd be something that I'd definitely be open-minded about."

Cooper made an uncharacteristically quiet return to Test rugby in Australia’s humiliating 22-0 defeat to New Zealand a fortnight ago and is under pressure to provide the attacking flair he is renowned for in Saturday’s must-win Rugby Championship clash with South Africa.

Utility back Mike Harris said his Wallaby and Reds teammate, who has endured an injury-plagued season, has been harshly criticised and backs him to bounce back against the Springboks in Perth.   

"It's pretty hard when you haven't played too much and on that day he didn't get too many opportunities," said Harris.

"You can't rate him on one performance coming back into a team where things weren't going well around him.

"I know myself when you're playing No 10 and things aren't going well it's definitely hard to try and have a good game.

"He hasn't played a lot of footy so he's got to do the small things right first and build his confidence up and his game will flow from there."