The Test future of Wallabies second row stalwart Nathan Sharpe is in doubt after he was omitted from Australia's 28-man tour to South Africa.

Western Force skipper Sharpe, 30, was the one major omission from the squad, though halfback Luke Burgess was ruled out of the tour after sustaining a knee injury in training on Wednesday.

Burgess suffered a meniscus tear while executing a tackle and will be sidelined for four to six weeks, meaning he is also unlikely to be fit for Australia's Tri Nations match against the All Blacks in Brisbane on September 13.

Sam Cordingley is in the box seat to take over the No.9 role.

With Sharpe left at home in Australia, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans revealed South African-born lock Daniel Vickerman would start in the Test against the Springboks in Durban on August 23.

The second Test is in Johannesburg a week later.

Obviously impressed by the strong form of young lock James Horwill, Deans said it had come down to a battle between Sharpe and Vickerman for one spot.

The Wallabies mentor stressed it was as much the greater versatility of Hugh McMeniman and Dean Mumm, both of whom can play in the second and back rows, as much as form which had told against Sharpe.

With his first choice blindside flanker Rocky Elsom expected to miss the Durban Test with a foot injury, McMeniman and Mumm offered Deans more versatility than specialist second row Sharpe.

"Rocky Elsom is obviously in doubt for the first one and Dean has the ability to play and to cover in that position as well as Hugh has," Deans said.

"Nathan has done well to date, but it came down to a call between Dan and Nathan."

Sharpe has been virtually a permanent fixture in the Wallabies line up in recent years, starting every Test in 2005 and 06.

He won Australian rugby's top individual honour, the John Eales Medal last year.

Sharpe played five of Australia's first six Tests this year to swell his caps tally to 69, third largest in the current squad behind flankers George Smith (89) and Phil Waugh (72).

But with Deans understood to favour a more abrasive style of game as exhibited by Horwill, Sharpe's Wallabies days may be numbered.

Wallabies centre and captain Stirling Mortlock had a brief chat with Sharpe before training.

"It's obviously very disappointing for him, in saying that, sometimes you get an opportunity and he has a break and gets back with his wife and I believe she is due in two or three weeks, so that's a slight positive, but he's very disappointed at the moment," Mortlock said.

However he expected Sharpe, who has captained Australia twice, to regain a spot in the team.

"I certainly hope so, Sharpey has been a huge part of this team for a long period of time and you only have to look at how much he has contributed to the Force in particular this year, how well he's played for their team," Mortlock said.

"I've got no doubt he will be back in the Wallabies soon."

In Sharpe's favour is the fact Vickerman has not re-signed with the Australian Rugby Union beyond this year.

Squad: Stirling Mortlock (capt), Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Al Baxter, Richard Brown, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Matt Dunning, Rocky Elsom, Adam Freier, Matt Giteau, James Horwill, Peter Hynes, Hugh McMeniman, Drew Mitchell, Dean Mumm, Stephen Moore, Wycliff Palu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Brett Sheehan, George Smith, Timana Tahu, Lote Tuqiri, Lachie Turner, Phil Waugh, Dan Vickerman.

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