Australia's line-up for Saturday's must-win Tri Nations clash with South Africa in Perth remains shrouded in mystery, with the fate of lock Nathan Sharpe (shoulder) and flanker Rocky Elsom (ankle) still unknown.

Both underwent scans in Perth on Monday but coach Robbie Deans and his fellow selectors will sleep on the results before unveiling the team on Tuesday.

Fullback James O'Connor was cleared of a leg fracture but failed to train and is also in doubt, but centre Berrick Barnes (concussion/neck) is expected to play despite also missing the light session.

Deans could also make some unforced changes to his starting line-up, with prop Al Baxter and scrumhalf Luke Burgess on shaky ground following Australia's heartbreaking 19-18 loss to New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday night.

Baxter has been heavily penalised at scrum-time in recent games and could be replaced by Ben Alexander, while Deans could also opt to give the impressive Will Genia a starting berth ahead of Burgess.

Genia, 21, said he had adapted well to the pace of Test rugby and was ready for more responsibility.

"I definitely feel comfortable," Genia said on Monday.

"It's not so much being nervous about playing, it's just excited about the challenge of playing Test rugby for Australia.

"I'd like a bit more game time.

"I wouldn't say I'm happy with what I'm given, but whatever I'm given I try to make the most of."

Meanwhile, Alexander admits Australia may have to temper their attacking brand of rugby if the Wallabies are to break South Africa's current dominance of the sport.

While the boot of Morne Steyn has helped lift the Proteas to top spot on the Tri Nations table, Australia, renowned for an expansive game, sit dead last following three straight losses to start the series.

The abolishment of the short-arm penalty has seen most games once again decided by penalties instead of tries - a situation Alexander and many of his Wallabies teammates are clearly unimpressed with.

"Australians love their sport and love their entertaining spectacles," Alexander said.

"Fans in France and England love the rolling maul or the tighthead scrum.

"They're not exposed to rugby league and AFL.

"It's hard, we want to play entertaining rugby but we want to win first and foremost.

"If you ask any South African fan, winning is more entertaining than playing entertaining and losing.

"I don't think we have to necessarily ditch it (attacking rugby), I think we've just got to play what's in front of us.

"If the opportunity is there to attack, we'll attack.

"But we've got to work hard to put ourselves in positions to be able to attack."

Australia sit a whopping 10 points behind South Africa on the Tri Nations table but Alexander was adamant the Wallabies were still in the hunt to clinch the series.

"If we win our last three (games) and some other results go our way, with the two bonus points we gained we are still a chance to take the Tri Nations title," he said.

"So it by no means is over."

But Genia said Australia could ill afford any repeat of the ill discipline that has plagued them throughout the series so far.

"Any sort of penalty within 60m when you are playing against South Africa you are definitely going to give away three points with a genuine goalkicker in Morne Steyn," he said.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP