Rebels' Phipps looks set for a call-up to the Wallabies Tri-Nations squad © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: Elsom set to face Samoa

News: Wallabies sound World Cup rallying call

News: Polota-Nau's World Cup hopes alive

Players/Officials: Luke Burgess | Robbie Deans | Drew Mitchell | Nick Phipps | Tatafu Polota-Nau

Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup

Teams: Australia

Pictures: Australia's Rocky Elsom looks on during training

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is facing the prospect of kicking off his side's Rugby World Cup preparations with a largely untried squad.

Deans, whose side kick off their latest international campaign against Samoa on July 17, has seen his squad decimated by injuries with Reds' prop James Slipper, Waratahs' hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau and scrum-half Luke Burgess all out for six-to-eight weeks having joined the casualty list this week. They are joined on the sidelines by fellow 'Tahs No.8 Wycliff Palu and winger Drew Mitchell while inside centre Berrick Barnes remains a doubt following his well documented concussion-related migraines.

Australia will announce their squad for the Samoa clash at the Tri-Nations on July 11 and Deans is aware his resources will be stretched. "The likelihood is we will name blokes who aren't able to play in the first instance, but who we will want to get under way, given that we have such a short preparation window," Deans said.

"We've got a number of blokes who won't be available for the front end of Tri-Nations, who probably at best will be available for the last fixture. There's likely to be some that we'll have to make a call on, but it will be having observed their training, there's not a lot of risk in that now. You can't hide in terms of the conditioning work that you do. We won't be picking anyone who hasn't shown that they are close and ready to go, because it's such a short campaign, you just can't afford to."

The Wallabies play four Tri-Nations Tests, with the last against New Zealand in Brisbane on August 27 - just two weeks before their World Cup opener against Italy in Auckland. However, there is some good news for Deans who said captain Rocky Elsom has resumed running and looks set to line-up against Samoa. If the aforementioned players fail to return in time for the test against Samoa, then Deans is expected to turn to uncapped players to fill the void at hooker and half-back.

Melbourne Rebels' and Australia's Rookie of the Year Nick Phipps is a contender for a scrum-half spot, while Deans can choose from Western Force duo Nathan Charles and Ben Whittaker, Reds' James Hanson and Waratah John Ulugia to fill in at hooker.