Wallabies wrecking ball Wycliff Palu has declared himself physically and mentally refreshed to take on the All Blacks when the Tri-Nations series gets underway later this month.

Palu made his comeback from a broken hand in Sydney club rugby at the weekend and is expected to be named on Thursday in a 30-man Australian squad for the series, which gets underway in Auckland on July 18.

"The body pulled up fine, the hand pulled up fine and I got through the 80 minutes," Palu told AAP on Wednesday.

"That was my goal when I got injured, just to get my body right in the weeks I've been off because I know how hard (coach) Robbie (Deans) works the boys in the squad.

"It was up to me to get myself right so I'll be pretty confident that I'll be fine."

The 26-year-old No.8 said the lay-off since injuring his left hand on NSW's season-ending Super 14 tour of South Africa had him hungry to be let loose on the inconsistent All Blacks.

"I think it's come as a blessing in disguise really," he said.

"(In) the Super 14 my body got battered and bruised a bit so it's good to kind of get a bit of time off and mentally refreshed and physically refreshed.

"I'm pretty hungry to get back in there and, if I get the opportunity, I'm not going to take it for granted."

Prop Matt Dunning, who has played the last few weeks of club rugby, is also a possibility of deposing early season bolter Pek Cowan.

Palu met with Deans last week, but said the coach was giving little away.

"He just told me to try to get fit and try to get as much game time as I can and it was good to get 80 minutes out last week," he said.

"I wouldn't say I'm confident (of being named) but you just never know.

"I think the team's been going pretty well so it will be pretty hard to crack the squad."

The Wallabies are keen to bolster their depth at No.8, the position flanker George Smith was forced to cover in the last squad with in-form Richard Brown the only specialist.

"I think that goes to show how close it is amongst the back row," Palu said.

"You get injured and you give someone else a chance and Richard Brown's taken the No.8 and he's played well every time he's worn the Australian jersey, so it's up to me to try and take it off him."

Possible Wallabies squad:

Backs: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Ryan Cross, Matt Giteau, Peter Hynes, Drew Mitchell, Stirling Mortlock (capt), James O'Connor, Timana Tahu, Josh Valentine, Lachie Turner.

Forwards: Ben Alexander, Al Baxter, Richard Brown, Matt Dunning, Rocky Elsom, Matt Hodgson, James Horwill, Peter Kimlin, Stephen Moore, Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Wycliff Palu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Nathan Sharpe, George Smith, Phil Waugh.

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