Robbie Deans has gained rave reviews for ensuring Wallabies are seen at club level but Ryan Cross is waiting before giving his unqualified support.

Cross is one of seven Wallabies reserves coach Deans has released to clubland on Saturday, set to debut for Sydney's Eastern Suburbs after completing a hasty temporary transfer from University WA.

The Perth-based league convert is pleased to see some action in the Shute Shield but unsurprisingly remains wary about the risks lining up against Gordon at Chatswood Oval.

Already digesting the bittersweet taste of being left on the bench in what was expected to be his Test debut against Ireland, Cross knows injury could put him back to square one at a time he's a virtual certainty to get a cap on June 28 against France.

"It will be good to have a run this week, I hope I come through unscathed," he told AAP.

"Hopefully I can still get a Test cap, I still haven't got one and I have to get one.

"To get that first cap out of the way would be good and I can kick on hopefully."

Deans' decision to keep Cross on the bench in the 18-12 win was no sleight on the Force outside centre, who sat alongside fellow reserve Adam Ashley-Cooper throughout.

It would have been a tough ask for a debutant - even the seasoned former Sydney Rooster - with Ireland pressuring Australia at the death at Telstra Dome.

Deans would have either had to have replaced captain Stirling Mortlock or one of his playmakers - Matt Giteau or Berrick Barnes.

"I obviously wanted to be playing but I'd rather be there than not, that's for sure," said Cross, who didn't want or get an apology from the coach.

"It was my first preparations with the Test team so it's a good experience."

Cross will be joined by Australian rugby's forgotten man, Clyde Rathbone, in providing star power to Chatswood Oval with Rathbone returning from a chronic patella injury for Easts.

The 26-year-old, who hasn't played for 15 months and underwent knee surgery in November, will come off the bench for the Beasts as he attempts to get his career back on track.

Wallabies have been as rare as hens teeth in clubland in the past decade and Deans has won a lot of friends for his policy that resting Test stars play for their clubs.

Phil Waugh is one relishing the prospect of releasing some pent-up aggression for Sydney University after getting just eight minutes against Ireland.

Waugh's last club match was the Sydney premiership grand final in 2005 when Uni won their first of a hat-trick of titles.

Waugh will be joined in the Students team by lock Dean Mumm while Al Baxter and Ashley-Cooper will play for Norths, Adam Freier for Randwick and Sam Cordingley turns out for Brothers in Brisbane.

"As we saw at times against Ireland, guys need regular game-time to be able to keep themselves up with the demands that are placed on them in Test matches," Deans said.

The seven non-playing Wallabies squad-members - Brett Sheehan, Mark Chisholm, Digby Ioane, Ben Alexander, Richard Brown, Stephen Hoiles and Lachlan Turner - will play for Australia A against Tonga on Sunday.

Meantime, the worst kept secret in Queensland rugby was confirmed when French club Bayonne announced former Test prop Rodney Blake had joined them on a two-year deal.

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