The likely loss of blossoming Wallabies star Nathan Sharpe will offer Canberra lock Mark Chisholm the chance to forge his Test career when the Australian squad is named for a northern hemisphere tour.

Sharpe, who played his best international rugby this season, is battling injuries to both shoulders and will be rested from November's four-Test tour to fully recovery.

That brings Chisholm into line for a Wallabies call-up for Tests on successive Saturdays through November against Scotland (twice), France and England.

An obstacle to his Test debut could come from Canberra Vikings and ACT Brumbies team-mate Radike Samo.

Chisholm and Samo locked the scrum for the Brumbies this season but in club rugby for the Canberra Vikings they have been taking turns at lock and blindside flanker respectively.

Samo, after a brilliant year with the Brumbies, started on the side of the scrum for the Wallabies in the early Tests against Scotland, England and the Pacific Islanders.

But he was discarded for the Tri Nations where his loose style was considered a liability and George Smith was returned to the No.6 jersey, ushering in a more combative style by the Wallabies at the breakdown.

Chisholm played most of the early club season at lock, with Samo on the side of the scrum. But the Vikings finished the season with Chisholm at No.6 and Samo at lock, including in their qualifying loss to Sydney University in the Tooheys New Cup.

A former Australian under-19 and under-21 representative, Chisholm is shorter than current locks Justin Harrison, Dan Vickerman and Sharp, but compensates with mobility and athleticism which led to six tries for the Brumbies in last season's Super 12.

The fact Samo and Chisholm can cover both lock and flanker leaves the Wallabies some room to move in the size of the touring squad. There could be as many as 30 in the squad, following the addition of a midweek game for Australia A against the French Barbarians.

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