Australian winger Joe Roff is set to become the first overseas-based player to be selected for the Wallabies when coach Eddie Jones names his squad for the tour of Canada and Europe.

Roff, who has left Australia to play for French club Biarritz, is keen to join the tour and add to his 67 Test caps, and seems certain to get his wish when the 30-man squad is announced on Monday.

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones bolstered Roff's cause, all but declaring the 25-year-old winger would play on the European leg of the tour. "The IRB's (International Rugby Board's) directive is that Biarritz must free him to play," Jones said. "If he is the best left winger Australia has, he'll be selected."

It would be hard to draw any other conclusion about Roff's status after his series-turning performance against the British Lions, despite strong competition for wing spots with Chris Latham, Andrew Walker and Ben Tune all certain to tour.

The news isn't as good for two of Roff's ACT Brumbies teammates. Hooker Jeremy Paul, who suffered knee cruciate ligament damage in the first Test against the Lions, had complications with a knee infection and is not likely to play again until February.

Centre Stirling Mortlock, who injured his shoulder in this year's Super 12 semifinal, is also be sidelined until next season.

Queensland prop Glenn Panoho (back injury) may run out of time to impress selectors, with his next major match expected to be the one-off interstate match against NSW on October 6.

With former Wallaby Patricio Noriega (calf muscle) also injured, the door may be left ajar for popular NSW forward Matt Dunning, provided Australia chooses a fifth prop for the tour.

Reds centre Steve Kefu, brother of Wallaby No 8 Toutai, may be the bolter for the squad after recovering well from a knee injury sustained during his excellent Super 12 season.

New Brumbies recruit and former Australian flyhalf Pat Howard will also be considered, but Jones indicated on Tuesday he was more likely to look at players with Super 12 form to back up Stephen Larkham and Manny Edmonds.

Jones, four Tests into the national coaching role, said while he was happy to snare the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup, there was plenty of room for improvement in the Australian team when they play back to back Tests against England, France and Wales in November.

"I wouldn't say I'm totally comfortable with things at the moment, we really need to increase the intensity of our performance," Jones said. "But this tour will be perfect for us and our best chance to start developing players before the World Cup (in 2003)."

Meanwhile, Jones said he was waiting on further information from the Canadian Rugby Union about whether the Wallabies' tour opener against the North Americans will go ahead.

The match, scheduled for October 27, is in doubt after 60 top line players threatened to boycott national duties after their Australian-born coach David Clark was sacked.