Chris Latham is set to secure the Wallaby fullback berth after incumbent Matthew Burke was today ruled out for about six weeks with an ankle injury.

Already under intense pressure to retain his spot, Burke learnt he will miss this month's two Test rugby union series against Argentina and will battle to be fit for the Tri Nations series starting next month.

The news leaves the national selectors almost certain to name brilliant attacker Latham at fullback, but pondering their goalkicking options. It could open the way for one of the exciting Brumbies duo of Andrew Walker or Stirling Mortlock to secure their first cap in the first Test against the Pumas at Ballymore on June 17.

Burke suffered his injury in Saturday night's 19-14 national championship loss to Queensland at the Sydney Football Stadium and, while x-rays showed there was no break, NSW team doctor Sharron Flahive said a sprain high up in the ankle meant a lengthy rehabilitation.

"It is a difficult injury to deal with, it's not just a classic ankle sprain," said Flahive. "If we get him back earlier than six weeks that will be very much a bonus."

Burke and Latham had both been expected to be named in the Test side, with one out of position in the wing berth left vacant by injured Ben Tune.

If Wallaby coach Rod Macqueen doesn't want to give the goalkicking duties to a usually reluctant John Eales, Brumbies goalkicking centre Mortlock could get the wing spot. Otherwise it's likely to go to rugby league convert Walker, the Super 12's leading tryscorer.

Saturday night's match produced other worries for the selectors with Wallaby linchpins John Eales (corked thigh) and Tim Horan (thumb) also injured along with prop Glenn Panoho (head knock).

Reds coach John Connolly said Eales and Panoho would miss Queensland's second national championship match against the ACT in Brisbane on Tuesday, but both would be available for Test selection.

Centre Horan, who is scheduled to make his final Queensland appearance on Tuesday before joining English club Saracens later in the year will have a thumb ligament strained checked again on Monday. There was relief when x-rays today showed no break in the thumb.

Australia's first Tri Nations game against South Africa is just under five weeks away on July 8, but Flahive said she would be happy if Burke was out for anything less than six. Flahive said an MRI scan tomorrow would give her a better look at the Burke's ligaments but she would probably know a lot more in about 10 days.

"The problem with this particular ligament is the more you push it, the slower it makes you go, it's not one you can strap up and just push through," she said. "The big thing we will stop him from doing is any running, so we will put him in a pool and hopefully on the bike a bit later on."

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