Coach Robbie Deans has taken two more players into his squad of 26 players to fly across the Indian Ocean to Durban on Sunday – prop Salesi Ma’afu and No 8 Radike Samo.

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However, Deans has sprung something of a surprise by not including Brumbies star Matt Giteau in his Tri-Nations touring squad to face the Springboks next weekend.

Giteau has been out of favour since Australia’s loss to Samoa, with rookie Pat McCabe wearing the No.12 jersey in the absence of Giteau and Waratahs star Berrick Barnes (the latter due to ‘footballer’s migraine’).

Ma’afu is recovering from a broken arm and Samo may be included after some disappointment with the Wallaby forward effort against the All Blacks.

No.8 Ben McCalman’s position may be in jeopardy as may that of lock Rob Simmons.

At the same time Deans has released Dan Vickerman from the trip as the returning Wallaby is short of game time and so will be involved in Sydney’s club rugby instead of sitting on a Test bench as he did in Auckland. Veteran Nathan Sharpe has been recalled to take Vickerman’s place.

What makes the selection of Samo stranger, is the fine performance of Scott Higginbotham when he replaced McCalman in the second half in Auckland. Samo, however, could be used as an impact player off the bench should Higginbotham start for the Wallabies.

Ma’afu, meanwhile, is expected to replace Pek Cowan on the bench in Durban when the Wallabies take on the winless Springboks.

Wallabies squad: Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Pekahou Cowan, Rocky Elsom, Anthony Faingaa, Saia Faingaa, 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, Nathan Sharpe, Salesi Ma’afu, Radike Samo.