The Wallabies' gloves will come off on Thursday, when squad members stake their claims for a place on the grand slam tour in an intense opposed session policed by international rugby referees.

Coach Robbie Deans, still smarting from his side's capitulation in Wellington and looking for toughness above all other qualities in his players, was to announce two "teams" on Monday night which will prepare all week for the 90-minute showdown at a training session open to the public.

The fans could get more than good school holiday value at Sydney's Riverview College too, with previous Wallabies sessions this year erupting into near fisticuffs, on one occasion between Phil Waugh and James O'Connor and another amongst Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander.

Centre Stirling Mortlock's passion will also be welcomed by Deans after the Wallabies captain returned to camp with his rehabilitation from a knee injury on track to have him on the park against the All Blacks on October 31.

Mortlock is among several Wallabies, though, who are likely to be spectators on Thursday as medical staff assess the squad's injury worries.

Nathan Sharpe's shoulder is still causing concern, while James Horwill and Phil Waugh are others on the list and prop Benn Robinson suffered a suspected groin strain on Monday.

Digby Ioane and Mitchell Chapman are returning from shoulder reconstructions and in the early stages of contact work.

"Everyone named (in the 43-man training squad) will have a show ... probables and possibles, call it what you like, it doesn't really matter," Deans told reporters on Monday as the Wallabies gathered at their Sydney camp.

"It wouldn't be a good idea to presume that anything will come forward from the past so it doesn't really matter what the combinations or whether they're incumbents or not.

" ... We'll be mixing up combinations and it won't be a game as such, but it will be opposed work.

"They'll prepare (throughout the week) so they've got a good background of preparation."

Deans said international referees Stu Dickinson and Steve Walsh were in line to keep the sides apart.

And he said seats on the flights to Tokyo then Europe were at stake with selectors to announce their 35-man squad for what is likely to be a seven-match tour on Friday.

"We're not doing this for the sake of it, this has got meaning ... we'll obviously be reviewing the footage pretty closely because we name the squad next day," Deans said.

The pseudo match, which Deans has consistently referred to as "elements of competition", has come about after a probables-possibles trial was cancelled due to a dispute over player payments.

Whether Mortlock returns as captain is uncertain after the coach declared all positions open in the tour squad.

"I certainly would love to lead the group, I think it's a great honour to be captain of this side, but I think I've just got to focus on getting myself right first and foremost," Mortlock said.

" ... That's something that will be addressed down the track but I certainly will be doing everything in my power to get myself in contention to be playing, and then hopefully look at that afterwards."

Mortlock said a Wallabies leadership group would also be considered.

"I've got no doubt that over this next period of time it will be a good opportunity for us as a group to take a step back and analyse where we are ... so that will be one of the things we'll look into I'm sure," he said.

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