Wallabies coach Dave Rennie remains confident powerful prop Taniela Tupou will be raring to go ahead of the first Test against England on July 2.
Tupou last featured in April, suffering a calf injury that ruled him out of the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
Don't miss out! Purchase your tickets for the Wallabies'three-Test series against England
The 26-year-old has linked up with a select group of Reds and Rebels players in Sydney as they begin preparations for the July Test series, with Rennie confident of having Tupou at his disposal.
We’re pretty confident (Tupou will be fit),” Rennie said. “The calf injury is significant.
“The Reds understood that he wouldn’t be back so our medical team has had control of him. We’ve had S and C (strength and conditioning) up in Sanctuary Cove working with him and then we’ve flown them down here.
“He’s been here (in Sydney) all week. He’s dropped some size, working really hard, he’s in a really good place mentally, really fresh.
“We were a bit anxious three weeks ago but we’re pretty confident we’ll get him there for the first Test.”
Rennie will name a 35-player squad on Sunday, with the biggest discussion points coming around the make-up of the backrow heading into the first Test in Perth.
The Wallabies experimented with several options in 2021, with Rebel Rob Leota impressing at blindside flanker on the Spring Tour.
Leota's early-season injury and the strong form of Harry Wilson has opened the selection debate up about where to play Brumbies enforcer Rob Valetini, shifted between blindside and his preferred number eight.
With a bevy of options, Rennie was leaving everything on the table, including potentially using Jed Holloway in a similar role the Brumbies have found success with Tom Hooper as a hybrid lock/backrower.
“It’s a possibility but we’ve got Rob Leota who finished the season with us and he’s been excellent,” Rennie said.
“We’ve got Jed Holloway, who predominantly has played lock and could play lock for us, but he’s a genuine 6 option and has a really good skill set and he’ll push close.
“We’ve got some genuine competition for places.”
