Wallaby coach Eddie Jones is optimistic almost all of his wounded stars will be fit in time to start the Super 12 provincial rugby tournament.

The Wallabies' countdown to the World Cup title defence in October-November began in earnest at a five-day camp on the Gold Coast.

But half a dozen of the 38 players were unable to train or fully participate as they recover from last season's injuries and recuperate from off-season surgery.

Halfback and captain George Gregan (foot), back rower David Lyons (hip) and winger Ben Tune (hamstring) won't train at the camp while others assigned limited duties include locks Nathan Sharpe (shoulder) and Daniel Heenan (back) and five eighth Stephen Larkham (hand).

Gregan has been wearing a foot brace for a few weeks to help him recover from stress fractures developed last year.

Team officials said Gregan was expected to wear the brace for about two more weeks and would probably miss the Brumbies first trial match against the Blues on February 7.

Veteran back rower Owen Finegan, who was not expected to play until the latter stages of the Super 12 because of shoulder surgery, was the only Wallaby regular not invited to the camp.

"There's a number of guys with injuries and a number that had end of season operations, but that's not a major concern at this stage," Jones said.

"All the 38 players here would be considered almost certain to start in the first round of Super 12.

"I know there are some question marks over Wendell Sailor and Ben Tune, but both of them appear to be coming along reasonably well, so it's all positive at the moment."

Jones said the camp would set the scene for the rest of the year with his coaching staff holding one-on-one meetings with every player.

"What's important is for the players to get their technique right in their skill work and that all comes from understanding what they need to do to improve," Jones said.

Asked how he was feeling at the start of a World Cup year Jones replied: "It's all very challenging and exciting.

"The Australian side has got a fantastic opportunity to play a World Cup in front of a home crowd and what we've got to do now is work very hard to ensure that's an advantage for us and we are as well prepared as we can be."

Jones said research he had conducted revealed there was some significant differences between Super 12 and international rugby.

"One of them is that international rugby is about 12 per cent faster than Super 12, so in terms of our preparation for the year we need the players to understand they have got to be training for international rugby and not for Super 12.

"That's not going to be at all detrimental to their Super 12, in fact it should make them play better in the Super 12 because they are training at a higher level."

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