The Queensland Reds lock was a cornerstone of their Super Rugby Pacific campaign under Les Kiss this season and earned selection in the competition's team of the year.
But he was left out of Joe Schmidt's final Test squad for the three July Nations Championship Tests.
The outgoing coach preferred more mobile pair Josh Canham and Jeremy Williams as his starting second row and blooded Lachlan Shaw and Miles Amatosero off the bench.
Those four have been retained in Kiss's first Wallabies squad to play Tests against Japan in Osaka and Townsville next month.
But Salakaia-Loto will join them and has pledged to do what he does best if given a shot.
"Disappointing, but there's more things to life than us being selected for a team," the father-of-three said.
"I did what I could do. I was at peace with what I produced. You don't always get what you deserve, can't dwell too much.
"I know what I bring to a side and what value I can offer at my best."
Canham scored a historic hat-trick against Italy and helped stabilise the Wallabies' line-out in Tests against Ireland and France.
Salakaia-Loto brings a different edge as a bruising ball-carrier with a wicked offload and scary defence.
"I played heavier," he confirmed of his bulked-up approach to 2026, designed to skittle opposition defence.
"It was on purpose but it doesn't take much for me to put weight on ... I could probably put 5kg on in one night.
"I thought I acclimatised well to it (balancing the extra weight with endurance). I played pretty much every minute.
"And I can still get up there (in line-outs)."
He doesn't expect Kiss to change the winning formula in the second row, labelling Canham - who he played with at the Reds and Rebels - a "real baller".
But Kiss has expressed his desire to experiment as he plans for next year's World Cup.
The side travels to Osaka this weekend ahead of next Saturday's Test - set to be played in sweltering afternoon heat and humidity - before a rematch in Townsville a week later.
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