Former captain Stirling Mortlock has been ruled out of the first two Tests on the Wallabies' spring tour to Japan and Europe through injury.

Mortlock has torn a calf muscle and will miss the Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks in Tokyo on October 31 and the opening grand slam Test against England at Twickenham a week later.

The veteran centre will remain home to recuperate when the Wallabies fly out to Japan on Sunday and is hoping to rejoin the tour squad in time for the November 15 Test against Ireland.

Coach Robbie Deans has not sought a short term replacement with plenty of selection options in his 35-man squad.

"It's bad enough, a decent size tear in the muscle," Mortlock told reporters.

"I think realistically we're targeting being 100 per cent right by that week leading into the Ireland match.

"I'll be ready to go, don't worry about that.

"From my perspective obviously it is extremely disappointed with this news but you take it in your stride and process the information.

"The best way forward for me is getting treatment here in Australia and doing that over the next two and a half weeks... and hopefully meeting up with the team, raring to go."

The injury is another blow to Mortlock, who has just recovered from a knee injury which saw him miss the majority of the 2009 Tri-Nations series.

He subsequently saw the Wallabies captaincy handed to Rocky Elsom.

Winger Drew Mitchell rolled his ankle at training on Tuesday at Sydney's Victoria Barracks but Deans said he was not at risk of missing any matches.

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