Australian Test selectors have lost another candidate for next week's clash against New Zealand with Jason Ryles suffering a reoccurrence of a hand injury.

The St George Illawarra prop, who had only just returned to action from a break to the same hand, left the field after just 13 minutes of Tuesday's Anzac Day NRL clash in which the Dragons beat the Roosters 22-12.

Ryles will have scans on his injury on Wednesday with the initial diagnosis being a break to the same bone.

His injury has left selectors with a major headache ahead of the Suncorp Stadium encounter, with the Test squad to be named on Sunday night following the completion of this weekend's round.

Only Brisbane veteran Petero Civoniceva appears a certain selection in the front row, with Bulldogs prop Mark O'Meley the leading candidate to take the other berth.

"At the moment, I don't think there's anyone crying out (for selection) in the front row," chairman of selectors Bob McCarthy said.

"Petero's up there because his form has been pretty good early on and O'Meley, we all think he plays the game like (Brisbane prop Shane) Webcke, which we have missed the last couple of years."

McCarthy said selectors may have to look at using backrowers Willie Mason and Steve Simpson up front due to the lack of available options.

North Queensland's Shane Tronc and Matthew Scott have been standout props in the competition, but McCarthy said selectors were unlikely to experiment for what is likely to be a hostile Test environment with Australia looking for revenge after the 24-0 defeat in last year's Tri-Nations final.

"Not at this stage, not in the Australian side," McCarthy said. "I like to see the blokes go through the right procedure ... I wouldn't like to experiment too much."

One man who is sure to come up in discussions is Dragons workhorse Luke Bailey, who made an encouraging return from a knee injury.

Bailey will have another match against Melbourne on Saturday night to prove his worth to selectors, but Dragons coach Nathan Brown said selectors should not be worried about his lack of match fitness.

"Two years ago he missed nearly the whole season and he came back for a semi-final against Penrith and was our best player," Brown said.

"You don't like to put that expectation on him but you do know that when he does come back he's going to play well for you."

Brown also backed his other Tests aspirants Trent Barrett, Matt Cooper and Mark Gasnier for a Test call-up, and said he would be happy to see all of them play in Brisbane next week.

The selection of Gasnier and Cooper in the centres has been a hot topic this week, with Australian coach Ricky Stuart and predecessor Wayne Bennett waging a war of words over the merits of Broncos three-quarter Justin Hodges' push for Test honours.

"I know from my point of view, and I know Ricky does, that the two centres, Trent Barrett and Luke Bailey will do a great job for him," Brown said.

"They've done a great job for him in Origin before ... and they've done a great job for Australia and I've got no doubt they will do a great job if they were selected this time around."

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