Rocky Elsom retained the captaincy as Wallabies coach Robbie Deans on Thursday drafted in five uncapped front-rowers for next month's rugby internationals against Fiji, England, Ireland and the Barbarians.

With the Wallabies ravaged by injury before the Test season even gets underway, Deans is banking on a stack of rookies to carry the load before the all-important Tri Nations tournament kicks off in July.

Further highlighting the massive generational change taking place in Australian rugby, veteran lock Nathan Sharpe was the only survivor from the 2003 World Cup final named in Deans's 40-man squad.

And of those 40, just 11 boasted Test-match experience before Deans took the helm in 2008.

Deans, though, is backing greenhorn props Ben Daley, Laurie Weeks and Salesi Ma'afu and uncapped hookers Saii Faingaa and Huia Edmonds to take advantage of the absence of Test regulars like Benn Robinson (arm) and Stephen Moore (jaw).

"Some blokes will get some opportunities and I've got no doubt they'll seize them and we'll be in the good position of having competition for spots," Deans told reporters at the squad announcement at ARU headquarters in Sydney.

"It will test the depth but it will also show the reality that there has been some depth built over the last couple of years, which is great."

Faingaa and Edmonds - rank outsiders at the start of 2010 to gain an international call-up this season - are even poised to be Australia's two rakes for Saturday week's winter opener against Fiji in Canberra.

NSW Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau continues to be troubled by shoulder and ankle injuries and is almost certain to be overlooked following a thorough medical assessment on Sunday.

"We don't intend to involve him in the early Tests," Deans said.

"He needs a break, he deserves a break. He's had a great Super rugby season and he's really contributed beyond most men's capabilities."

Two other uncapped players made the squad - young Waratahs centre Rob Horne and Western Force flanker Matt Hodgson.

While Elsom was said to have been under pressure to keep the captaincy he inherited from Mortlock before last year's spring tour, Deans said the inspirational flanker was still the best man for the job.

"He had a taste last year and, as he said himself, he's better for that," Deans said.

"He will push on as a result of that experience, and he has to push on, just like the whole group has to.

"The great thing for Rocky is, we have leadership emerging all around him, so it won't be a matter of him having to make all the decisions and direct play.

"You look at the growing leadership we have with blokes like (David) Pocock and (Will) Genia and the decision makers in the game - Quade (Cooper) and Gits (Matt Giteau) and Berrick (Barnes) - and Rocky will get a lot of support."

Among the notable omissions were Waratahs captain and 78-Test openside flanker Phil Waugh and his NSW teammate Al Baxter - the most-capped Wallabies prop in history.

Deans, though, insisted the recall of Brumbies skipper and No.8 Stephen Hoiles after two years in the international wilderness should show Waugh and Baxter that their Test careers aren't necessarily over.

"If you're prepared to keep working at it, age is irrelevant, history is irrelevant," the coach said.

"It's about what you make of the moment and Hoilesy has shown that he can be a better player.

"It's not over until any individual deems it to be over."

Apart from Robinson and Moore, other Test mainstays unavailable for selection included Mortlock, lock James Horwill and No.8 Wycliff Palu.

Wallabies squad: Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale, Richard Brown, Luke Burgess, Mark Chisholm, Quade Cooper, Pek Cowan, Ben Daley, Rocky Elsom (capt), Huia Edmonds, Saia Faingaa, Will Genia, Matt Giteau, Stephen Hoiles, Matt Hodgson, Rob Horne, Peter Hynes, Digby Ioane, Salesi Ma'afu, Drew Mitchell, Dean Mumm, James O'Connor, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Nathan Sharpe, Lachie Turner, Josh Valentine, and Laurie Weeks.

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