Rocky Elsom's return to the Wallabies against Italy in Canberra next Saturday is in doubt, but he will be rushed straight back into the Australian side if he overcomes a leg injury.

Elsom missed the Barbarians' 55-7 loss to Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday due to bone bruising in his left knee but rejoined the Wallabies squad on Sunday morning for the first time since last year's Tri-Nations series.

"Rocky brought some scans with him of an old injury and he has got a bit of bruising in the bone that may impact on his availability (against Italy)," Wallabies coach Robbie Deans told reporters on Sunday.

"The doc's going to take a look at them again and obviously catch up with Rocky and then we'll go from there."

Elsom's return after he was released early from his previous Australian rugby contract to play with Irish side Leinster would be a massive boost to the Wallabies.

The rampaging forward was man-of-the-match in Europe's Heineken Cup final two weeks ago and is in some of the best form of his career.

He joins Barbarians captain Phil Waugh in linking with the Wallabies, who flew to Canberra on Sunday.

Deans said Elsom would be rushed straight into the starting side if fit as the replacement for blindside flanker Matt Hodgson, who injured an AC shoulder joint at the SFS and will be sidelined for three weeks.

"If Rocky was cleared to play, I'd suggest it would be very likely he'd go straight in," Deans said.

The other options at No.6 are Dean Mumm or a regular openside flanker such as Waugh or David Pocock.

"It wouldn't be our preference but that is a possibility," Deans said of the lightweight option.

Elsom played down his outstanding form for Leinster.

"I think it's a bit of different game here, you can't always say that just because you played that way over there that it's going to be exactly the same here because the style of game's different," he said.

He said Italy had shown an ability to disrupt the more structured sides in Europe's Six Nations.

"They probably haven't got the proven performers in the backline to match the guys that they've got in the forwards and so they always look towards those guys to get on the front foot, but also make an impact in the game," he said.

Deans admitted he was in the dark again about Italy half Craig Gower as he prepares his side to face a France-based former NRL star for the second straight week.

"He's clearly making progress in the game, really enjoying the game on and off the field," Deans said.

"He'll bring to that Italian side a confidence ... a bloke who's been at that level, in terms of internationals, excited to be back there, excited about the challenge and about the prospects and those are all ingredients which make a difference to a team that is already competitive but just missing that element in terms of getting over the bow.

"He'll add a lot to them."

Wallabies halfback Luke Burgess (hip) has been cleared of any serious injury, while winger Drew Mitchell (hamstring) is also in no doubt.

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