Australia's Test against South Africa next month was on the verge of being moved from Colonial Stadium until stadium operators bowed to an Australian Rugby Union demand to replace 2700 square metres of turf.

ARU chief John O'Neill demanded that palletised grass replace the roll-on grass to withstand the rigours of rugby scrums.

O'Neill, who spoke with Colonial Stadium Operations chief executive Ian Collins today, admitted the Test would have been moved if the palletised grass was not laid.

"That would have been our last resort," he said. "We've always talked about Armageddon, and Armageddon would have been a pitch unsafe for the players.

"We're talking about 16 forwards over 100kg each pushing against each other - that will churn up any turf and if you have unstable turf then injury is a big factor. There was a risk in scrummaging that the older turf would really churn up and player safety would be a major concern for us but I'm pleased to say the stadium owners have agreed to replace the old turf with palletised turf."

Only last week the grass on the eastern wing of the ground was replaced after an AFL match had to be moved to the MCG because of the instability under foot.

O'Neill said the palletised turf, already grown on site and then laid into the ground in big blocks, can be played on immediately.

"We've seen and heard a lot of reports about the turf so we came down today to see it first hand," O'Neill said. "One half of the ground has been replaced with palletised grass and it's very firm, very stable.

"But there are some concerns about the eastern side and I'm very pleased to say Ian Collins has agreed to replace it with palletised grass so the ground will be perfect for the match on July 8."

One interested spectator today was injured Wallaby winger Ben Tune who will play his first game for three months when he turns out for his Brisbane club side GPS on Saturday.

"If I can get a couple of games under my belt I hope to at least make the Wallaby camp here and then it's up to the selectors," he said.

Also on the comeback list is fullback Matt Burke recovering from an ankle injury.

He will visit Wallaby physio Greg Craig in Canberra this week for treatment and he, too, is hoping to play at Colonial, which will be the first rugby Test played indoors.

"It's a slow process but hopefully I'm ahead of schedule. Playing here on July 8 is the aim but I'll have to wait and see how my body heals."

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