Cooper has been out of action for four months and is likely to return through the NRC © Getty Images

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The Wallabies injury woes have continued with Quade Cooper unlikely to make his Test return until the Wallabies tour of Europe in November. Previously thought to be available for the Wallabies third Bledisloe Test in Brisbane, the Wallabies have now revised his retur date in a conservative plan to make sure his shoulder is at full strength.

Yet to start contact training, Cooper told News Corp rehabilitation from his shoulder surgery in ay 17 had been slower than expected and would push him out of the time frame for a return during the final Bledisloe Test in October.

With almost four months off the field, plans are being made for Cooper to join Will Genia at the National Rugby Championship and prove his fitness with Brisbane City, in the latter stages of the competition.

"Quade has been in full training, bar the contact parts, and been giving regular pointers to our young No.10s Jake McIntyre and James Dalgleish," Brisbane coach Nick Stiles said. "Playing the last couple of games in the NRC is very much an option for Quade."

However, it won't be an easy run for Cooper to secure the Wallabies No.10 jersey with Bernard Foley taking firm control of the fly-half position and proving his mettle as the Wallabies playmaker.

The Wallabies injury list has continued to grow throughout the Rugby Championship, with tackle-busting No.8 Wycliff Palu ruled out after his recent concussion making the Wallabies tour of South Africa and Argentina even harder. Palu will be joining Tatafu Polota-Nau (ankle) on the sidelines as the Wallabies hooker stocks take a further hit.

The return of Adam Ashley-Cooper will resolve the depleted wing options with Peter Betham cruelly ruled out with a foot injury.

But the Wallabies aren't the only side with injury issues with the Springboks and All Blacks facing their own injury concerns with 'Boks half-back Ruan Pienaar (knee) ruled out of the rest of the Rugby Championship and flanker Francois Luow struggling with a nerve issue in his arm, while All Blacks centre Ma'a Nonu will miss the rest of the season with a broken arm.