Revered former skipper Andrew Slack believes the Australian Rugby Union would be crazy to sack coach Robbie Deans even if the Wallabies suffer a Tri-Nations series whitewash.

Ahead of Australia's most challenging campaign in Tri-Nations history, Slack on Monday admitted the under-fire Wallabies, rank outsiders before the series, could conceivably play well each time and still lose all six matches against the world's top two ranked teams.

Deans, set to make just minor changes for Saturday night's Test against South Africa, is contracted through to the end of next year's World Cup in New Zealand and the ARU is demanding better results than his 56.3 per cent success rate.

But Slack, inducted into the Wallabies Hall of Fame on Monday, said the New Zealand-born coach should not have his contract cut short even if he leads Australia to a second straight Tri-Nations wooden-spoon.

"I can't for a minute fathom that would happen, well I could fathom it would happen because odd things happen, but it would be madness, regardless of what happens in the next two months, to change things there," said the 1984 Grand Slam-winning captain.

"Ostensibly you could lose six and play damn well in each of them and not have a skerrick of luck and that's where you have to make some pretty objective, not subjective, judgments.

"But God willing we win four or five or six."

In one of the most intriguing team selections of his tenure, Deans is expected to keep the faith on Tuesday when he names his side for their tournament opener at Suncorp Stadium.

Besieged backs Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell look set to be retained while prop Benn Robinson is the only star returning from injury certain to start with hooker Stephen Moore and possibly even halfback Will Genia to cool their heels on the bench.

The back-row combination will remain while Mitchell, dumped from the Wallabies squad a fortnight ago, should retain his wing spot with main challenger Cameron Shepherd rested from training on Monday.

With the Wallabies struggling to match the Boks for size, Slack called for their senior players to take a leaf out of the All Blacks book and "maintain the rage" in intensity for the entire 80 minutes on Saturday night.

"We've not always been great 80 minute teams and that's what the All Blacks are," Slack said after becoming the 18th former Wallaby to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

"They have to show every second is vital for them and that hasn't been visible so far this year and has to be over the next couple of months.

"I think (the lack of size) is an issue," he added, lamenting the lack of a Stirling Mortlock, Dan Herbert or Roger Gould figure in the backline.

"And that's why that intensity for 80 minutes is very important.

"There's a lot of talent and lot of strength and skill in (James) O'Connor and (Adam) Ashley-Cooper who are fantastic players and exceptionally strong for the size they are but they're not big."

While the Springboks were panned by NZ critics for being tired and off the pace in their back-to-back defeats to the All Blacks, Slack warned the world champions would be fired up to end their Suncorp Stadium hoodoo.

"You can imagine how hungry they are coming here after two losses and they do have great depth," he said.

Possible Wallabies starting team: James O'Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Quade Cooper, Will Genia or Luke Burgess; Richard Brown, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom, Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Salesi Ma'afu, Saia Faingaa, Benn Robinson.

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