The Wallabies' sole surviving specialist second rower James Horwill says the responsibility of replacing injured lock Nathan Sharpe can't be left to any one individual.

Western Force captain Sharpe was last week ruled out of the seven-match tour of Japan and the United Kingdom with a shoulder injury.

Easily Australia's most experienced second rower, Sharpe's withdrawal leaves a big gap in terms of Test experience and presence, with the UK sides tipped to give his team some torrid battles up front.

At 200 centimetres, Sharpe is the same height as Horwill, but the other two locks in the squad - Dean Mumm and Dave Dennis - are 196 centimetres and 192 centimetres respectively.

Horwill and Mark Chisholm are likely to carry a heavier load than usual with Dennis uncapped and Mumm alternating between the second and back rows.

Sharpe apart, injuries wrecked the tour aspirations of Brumbies star Peter Kimlin, the Waratahs' Will Caldwell and the emerging Force duo of Sam Wykes and Tom Hockings.

Horwill, who missed last year's spring tour with a foot injury, emphasised it was not up to any individual to try and replace 79-Test veteran Sharpe.

"I think everyone needs to probably take more responsibility, especially with Sharpey missing out," Horwill told AAP on Wednesday.

"We need to make sure that we take the responsibility on ourselves and don't leave it for someone else to do."

Unlike the other locks in the squad, 24-year-old Queensland stalwart Horwill has never flirted with playing in the back row.

"I've played second row the whole time, I think I'm one of the few that haven't played both, I'm happy with that," Horwill said.

Horwill anticipated some demanding clashes against the four Home Unions who will inevitably target the Wallabies up front.

"We are expecting a pretty torrid battle up front, they've always got very big and strong forward packs," Horwill said.

"I think they will be in pretty good stead, they've just started off their European club competitions, so they will be match ready and we are really looking forward to the challenge."

Prop Matt Dunning, who didn't play any part in the Wallabies' Tri-Nations Tests, believed his experience would help him quickly re-adjust to playing at Test match tempo.

Dunning has played over a dozen club matches since returning from surgery after rupturing an Achilles tendon in the final match of last year's tour.

"It's not quite the match fitness I need going to playing Test football, but it's a good base to work on and hopefully playing at that level before my body adjusts quickly," Dunning said.

Dunning, 30, has played 43 Tests, just one fewer than the combined tally of the other five props in the squad.

Dunning initially feared he might not play international rugby again after the injury, but is now looking forward to working with some of the younger props, including uncapped Salesi Ma'afu, Sekope Kepu (two caps), Pek Cowan (three) and Ben Alexander (13).

"I hope I can help guys like Salesi, Sekope and Ben to get better and while I'm doing that, I'm only improving myself," Dunning said.

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