Frustrated winger Ben Tune all but ruled himself out of the Wallabies' opening rugby Test next month after suffering another blow on Wednesday night in his battle to overcome a foot injury.

Tune trudged off an icy Ballymore conceding his right foot was still preventing him from running at full pace, ruling him out of the National Ricoh Championship next week and the opening Test against Argentina on June 17.

The star winger said only time would heal the tendon injury he suffered in March, rekindling the frustration of last season when he dealt with a chronic knee problem. Tune will miss Saturday night's clash with the Waratahs in Sydney and the Ballymore clash with the Brumbies three nights later, wiping away his chances of playing before the Wallaby squad is named next Wednesday.

"Even if I was right (by June 17) I don't think Australian rugby is in a state where it needs to pick a bloke who hasn't played in the previous 12 weeks," Tune said. "I think that would be stupid ... I'll be watching it with the rest.

"It's the basic things I'm having trouble with - acceleration, change of direction. I couldn't run anything like full pace so it was pointless going on. I've had pain like this for the last month so I can't see why it would improve in the short-term."

A Brisbane foot and ankle specialist earlier gave Tune a ray of hope, suggesting the 23-year-old could play to see how the foot coped. But Wednesday night's training session with the Reds doused any hope and Tune left the field to again apply ice to the injury.

"I have to get it right and it's not a matter of gritting my teeth and just hoping it will improve," Tune said. "My biggest thing now is just to play again. I couldn't care less who I played for, I just want to play."

Nathan Williams will take Tune's place against the Waratahs on Saturday night.

The Reds are hopeful winger Damian Smith will play following a groin injury but will take an extra player to Sydney for the Waratahs clash as a precaution.

There was more encouraging news for Reds Test veteran David Wilson, who remains a fringe chance of returning from injury to take on the Brumbies next Tuesday night. Wilson's fractured sternum will keep him out of Saturday night's match and his chances of playing against the Brumbies will be determined on Sunday afternoon.

The flanker has not played since April 29 but his Reds coach John Connolly has already urged national selectors not to overlook Wilson if he is capable of playing against Argentina.

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