Reds wing Wendell Sailor is in danger of missing the Wallabies tour of Argentina and Europe as he struggles to recover from a knee injury.

Sailor told the Courier Mail that he was racing the clock to be passed fit before the Wallabies leave next Thursday for the first step in their World Cup defence.

The Reds winger, tipped to win a coveted starting position on the tour, suffered a cartilage tear last week and has been unable to run since.

"I think it first happened about a year ago when I was doing some kicking practice with the Broncos," he said.
"I had a bursar in my right knee so I stopped kicking but for the last four or five weeks I have been having kicking coaching from Glen Ella and Ben Perkins. It was going really well and I was very happy with it but after training with the Wallabies last week I pulled up sore.

"The best possible outcome is that I go on the tour and have arthroscopic surgery when I get back," a dejected Sailor said. "The worst is that I miss the tour.

"I can't believe it. I've played only three games in four months. If I wasn't frustrated before I am now."

Wallaby coach Eddie Jones was keen to play down concerns over Sailor.

"He's got an old injury, it's a meniscal tear in his cartilage and it flares up at various times but he should be right," said Jones.

"He hasn't been very good over the last couple of days but as far as we can ascertain he will be fine for training on Sunday.

"With the right sort of medication to keep the inflammation down he'll be right for the tour."

"Missing the tour would have been a setback for his rugby career," admitted Jones.

"He has only played 15 games of professional rugby and he has been a bit hamstrung of late which has certainly slowed his development. But playing the big games on the home grounds of Argentina, Ireland and England in pressure Test matches will be an indication of how far he has come.

"In the backs there are guys like Wendell, Stirling Mortlock and Ben Tune all competing for two spots."

The Wallabies leave next Thursday.