The deeply-religious Digby Ioane feels he's been raised from the dead after a second shoulder scan put the Wallabies' most destructive back into the Tri-Nations mix.

On a day lock Mark Chisholm received a shot at his own Test resurrection with injury ruling Nathan Sharpe out of Saturday night's clash with Ireland, Ioane set himself for a return against the All Blacks next month.

The dynamic winger's season is alive again after it looked over following an "unusual" dislocation in the 21-20 loss to England.

"It's like coming back from the dead," an overjoyed Ioane told AAP.

"I was supposed to be out for four months.

"God's been good. I've been praying for the last four days.

"I'm just really pumped."

Initial shoulder scans suggested he needed a second bout of surgery to the joint which underwent a reconstruction more than 13 months ago but were inconclusive.

The results of a second scan and specialist's advice has allowed Ioane, in consultation with Wallabies and Queensland Reds medics, to take on an intense rehabilitation program.

"My major goal is to be back for the Test in Melbourne but I don't want to rush things, just take my time and make sure I'm 100 per cent," the 11-Test three-quarter said.

"I'm just happy I don't have to have surgery any more."

Relieved Wallabies coach Robbie Deans even felt Ioane was a realistic chance of being back in action for their Tri-Nations opener against South Africa in Brisbane on July 24.

"It was an unusual event that occurred that caused the injury so the likelihood of that repeating is nominal, so that's great," Deans said.

"Digby is huge in the group. He's a bloke that really impacts in the game.

"He has that rare athletic ability of speed plus endurance and he's strong and prepared to carry."

His tackle-breaking ability prompted Test great Tim Horan to this week label his loss bigger than influential halfback Will Genia (broken hand), while Reds coach Ewen McKenzie said the Wallabies playmakers needed his robust running to dent the line.

The Wallabies will take one of their least experienced forward packs into the Suncorp Stadium clash with Ireland following veteran Sharpe's scratching with a back injury.

The 32-year-old suffered spasms at training on Tuesday and a recurrence on Wednesday prompted Chisholm's call-up and a promotion of the uncapped Mitch Chapman to the bench.

At 28, Chisholm is now the oldest player in the injury-depleted pack and Deans has already sent the blunt message it was time for him to produce after playing 23 of his 50 Tests off the bench.

"He became a 50-Test cap player last week and the conversation was essentially along the lines `your apprenticeship is over and it's time to start getting a return'," the coach said.

"He's always wanted to be more than the go-to bloke when someone's injured but in all reality he hasn't mastered that but he's got an opportunity this weekend to show that he is capable of that."

Along with Sharpe, Ioane and Genia, the Wallabies are also expected to have established front-rowers Benn Robinson (forearm) and Stephen Moore (jaw) back for the Tri-Nations.

Wycliff Palu, James Horwill and probably Tatafu Polota-Nau will all miss the nine-match tournament.

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