Wallabies coach Les Kiss is undeterred about Western Force winger Zac Lomax's move overseas, believing competition is key to their World Cup campaign.
It comes as fellow returning league star Carter Gordon is set to be fit for next week's clash against Japan.
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Lomax will return to the NRL in 2028 with expansion side PNG Chiefs after signing a deal with the new club earlier in the week.
The former NSW and Australian rugby league rep star is currently sidelined with osteitis pubis, but Kiss confirmed he remains in the reckoning for selection.
“I've stated before, we need as much competitive pressure for selection as possible. Competitive pressure in the right way makes everyone better," he said.
"He's a pretty good footy player and a pretty good athlete too. He's hungry to try and do what he can in the game."
Kiss, a former league winger himself, was eager to see Lomax return via Super Rugby AUS, which will kick-off later in the year, as further wingers press their claims.
“He's in the system and I've spoken to ‘Crono’ [Force coach Simon Cron. on this assignment as well. He's keen to get him back and getting closer to being ready.
“He’ll be unleashed in Super AUS to get a few games to see where he is. I think he wants to find out where he is as well and he’s going to go gung-ho for it, I know that.
“It's a competitive position though and that's the important thing. If he comes really good, it makes it hard to make selections there, which I need. I need it to be tough to make those selections.
“We've got a lot of good men in the back three. If he gets better and better and puts pressure on those guys to be better, then I'm all for it.”
One player Kiss won't have to wait on is Gordon, who is back full training after a calf issue.
The Reds playmaker missed the Tests against France and Italy after picking up the strain in a narrow loss to Ireland.
“He's been trained fully. There's always management of the players in different ways, management of the squad," Kiss said.
“We eased ourselves into the first day; the next day was very specific and sharp just to get principles in, particularly defence, and it was a solid session today.
“We put him under a lot of pressure, a lot of mental pressure. We made the game of training as fast as possible with very little time to rest and think, to challenge our new defensive aspects, challenge a couple of things in attack. He partook in 90 per cent of it, 85-90 per cent of it as we rotated the tens a bit but he’s fully fit.”
