The Wallaby squad is without veteran lock and Force Captain Nathan Sharpe.

Scrumhalf Luke Burgess has been named in a squad as well, having recovered from a fractured hand he sustained playing for the Waratahs against the Blues in a Super Rugby play off match.

Besides Burgess Robbie Deans squad also includes winger Lachie Turner and locks Dan Vickerman and Sitaleki Timani, who joined the squad at the expense of scrumhalf Nick Phipps and Sharpe.

With Waratahs rookie Sitaleki Timani also included, Sharpe’s chances of featuring at the World Cup next month have taken a nosedive.

Vickerman, who played his first Test in about three years in last month’s upset loss to Samoa, will vie with Reds duo James Horwill and Rob Simmons for the second-row starting roles.

Australia’s Wallabies opened their international season with an upset loss to Samoa in Sydney before rebounding to beat South Africa squad 39-20 the following weekend in the opening match of the Tri-Nations tournament.

New Zealand thrashed South Africa 40-7 last weekend and is set to be close to full strength for Saturday’s match at Eden Park, where the All Blacks have not lost a test in 17 years.

Matt Giteau’s World Cup prospects have not improved with the center failing to regain his place in the Wallabies squad after being dropped for the match against the Springboks. The 33-year-old Sharpe, a 95-test veteran, is also in danger of missing the World Cup after being overlooked for the Bledisloe Cup match.

Burgess returns after proving his fitness following rehabilitation for his injured hand, which he broke during training in June ahead of the NSW Waratahs’ Super 15 semifinal against the Auckland Blues, the Australian Rugby Union said in a statement.

Turner is included after impressive performances with Sydney club Eastwood, while Vickerman also featured strongly for Sydney University last weekend.

Vickerman, a 56-test veteran, returned to the Wallabies for the first time since 2008 in the loss to Samoa after spending three years at Cambridge University.

Timani made his international debut against Samoa after some impressive performances in the Super 15 for the Waratahs.

The Wallabies squad will fly to Auckland on Wednesday and heads to South Africa after the Auckland match, with the squad for the match against the Springboks at Durban on Aug. 13 extended to 26 players.

The Wallabies hope to upset the All Blacks this weekend in Auckland to get a key psychological edge ahead of the Rugby World cup as well as taking a lead in the TriNations and Bledisloe Cup stakes.

Australia squad

Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Pekahou Cowan, Rocky Elsom, Anthony Fainga’a, Saia Fainga’a, Will Genia, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, James Horwill, Digby Ioane, Sekope Kepu, Pat McCabe, Ben McCalman, Stephen Moore, James O’Connor, David Pocock, Rob Simmons, Sitaleki Timani, Lachie Turner, Dan Vickerman.