Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau is unlikely to appear in the upcoming spring tour after a slower-than-expected recovery from an ankle operation.

Deans said the decision will be made according to the feedback Polota-Nau gives the Wallabies medical staff, but it's unlikely the 25-year-old will win his race against the clock.

"He's rehabing well and he won't be far away, but the reality is he probably won't be ready for the front end," Deans said on Friday.

"We just can't afford to take people who aren't ready for it."

He did not rule out Polota-Nau joining the squad at the end of the tour if he recovered and "if there was a need".

Polota-Nau had the operation in July and said he would not consider joining the Wallabies in the UK unless he was 100 per cent.

"I sort of ruled out any possibility of going with an 85 per cent fitness tolerance," he said.

"I want to be 100 per cent and give everything I have in order for the Wallabies to succeed on the spring tour."

He said Deans had been very supportive.

"It's up to me to give him the feedback, so he's actually given me the leniency to say when I'm right or not," Polota-Nau said.

Deans said injured centre Will Chambers was also unlikely to make the tour and confirmed that winger Digby Ioane, back-rower Wycliff Palu and lock James Horwill were definitely out of contention.

But he expected wingers Peter Hynes and Rod Davies to be available.

Deans will name a squad of 40 on Sunday week and then finalise a 36-man group October 13.

The squad will be further reduced to 30 after the Wallabies's mid-week game against Munster in Limerick on November 16.

The Wallabies coach also revealed there would be a fixture against Samoa next year.

"For those that aren't aware, there's likely to be a fixture against Samoa, followed by four Tri-nations fixtures, one weekend off (then) World Cup," Deans said.

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