Rugby: Wallabies jerseys up for grabs

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will tell his squad to play for their positions on the grand slam tour when all spots go up for grabs during an internal "trial" today.

Senior Wallabies have been referring to the final hitout of the camp as an opposed training session, but the intent in the voices of the players trying to break into the national side tells a different story.

With jerseys up for grabs, plenty of passion and fierce contests across the park are expected during the 90-minute contest to be refereed by international officials Stu Dickinson and Steve Walsh at St Ignatius College, Riverview, in Sydney.

Out of favour No.8 Stephen Hoiles, who has been recalled to the squad for the first time in over a year, said he will be wearing his game face and doing everything he can to earn a recall.

"You've just got to treat it like it's another game, we've been told there will be a referee there and it's going to be very similar, if not identical to a game," Hoiles said.

"There's 43 guys and you're playing against each other, then 43 will become 35 on Friday, so it's interesting, it will probably add a little bit of adrenalin."

It's a similar story for fellow tour aspirant Rob Horne, who is hoping to be included for the Wallabies' tour of Japan and Europe.

"This week's been a massive week physically and, as well, mentally just trying to get up to speed with all the plays," Horne said.

" ... That's a massive thing for us going into tomorrow with our plays and patterns, so we can put on a good show."

Wallabies stand-in captain George Smith said the teams will be trialling different combinations under match-like conditions.

He stressed it was important for all of the back-rowers to have versatility and be able to play at either No.6, No.7 or No.8 during the hitout.

"It's more a training session to make sure the guys know what roles they need to be doing within the set plays," Smith said.

"It does have merit to it, to make sure that the players know under fatigue and under pressure that they're able to fulfil their roles within the team.

"It also brings the new players who have tried pretty hard throughout the year in Super 14 and in the club competition to have the taste of camp set-up in the Wallabies and hopefully push themselves to be a bolter within the squad.

"I think Robbie said earlier that you can't be complacent and all spots are up for grabs and I think that's the way the players have approached this week's training sessions, the intensity's going to be high."

Likely trial teams

Probables: James O'Connor, Digby Ioane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Richard Kingi, Matt Giteau, Will Genia, Stephen Hoiles, David Pocock, Richard Brown, Mark Chisholm, David Dennis, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Pek Cowan. Res: Al Baxter, Wycliff Palu, Rocky Elsom.

Possibles: Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell, Ryan Cross, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne, Quade Cooper, Luke Burgess, Mitch Chapman, George Smith, Ben McCalman, Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Salesi Ma'afu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning. Res: Matt Hodgson, Damien Fitzpatrick, Josh Valentine.

Injured: Stirling Mortlock, Peter Hynes, Phil Waugh, Sekope Kepu, Nick Cummins, James Horwill, Benn Robinson.

- AAP