Robbie Deans' World Cup selection headache has developed into a full-blown migraine following Australia's spirited Tri Nations win over South Africa in Durban.

Deans was already agonising over what stars to omit from his 30-man Cup squad being named on Thursday before the Wallabies' 14-9 comeback victory over the Springboks' most experienced side ever only added to the uncertainty.

Recuperating Test regulars Drew Mitchell, Wycliff Palu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson and James Slipper were each expected to be included provided they passed 11th-hour medicals on Wednesday, while Rob Horne, Berrick Barnes and Matt Giteau all starred in Sydney club rugby on Saturday to press their claims.

Rob Simmons, a late scratching from the Durban Test with a sore shoulder, is guaranteed a boarding pass to New Zealand, while Dan Vickerman, who also played club rugby on the weekend to build his fitness, was likely to be the fourth second-rower.

But now that the entire starting XV from the Kings Park win plus outstanding replacement centre Anthony Faingaa and back-up halfback Luke Burgess have almost certainly guaranteed themselves selection, suddenly Deans has way too many candidates to squeeze into his squad.

The coach admitted the Durban victory hadn't helped he and co-selectors Jim Williams and David Nucifora, with none of his fringe hopefuls playing their way out of the Cup.

"We've got some tough calls to make. There's going to be some pain," Deans said.

"But I guess the good thing is, we're in that circumstance now."

Despite Barnes and Giteau each bagging tryscoring doubles for Sydney University and Randwick respectively at the weekend, the two former Wallabies vice-captains lost ground to midfield rivals Pat McCabe and Faingaa.

McCabe and Faingaa - the latter replacing Adam Ashley-Cooper for the last 20 minutes - were both superb and may well have convinced the selectors another inside centre won't be required.

The only hope now for Barnes and Giteau is that Deans and company will want five-eighth cover for Quade Cooper, even though the coach has indicated Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor are more than capable of filling the playmaker role.

Robinson, already battling to make the cut after tearing an ACL last month, must also be feeling even more nervous after the Australian scrum propped up by Ben Alexander and Sekope Kepu was again excellent.

Knowing there will be immense disappointment when the squad is announced, Deans urged those overlooked not to give up hope.

"The wheel turns and I've got no doubts there will be opportunities - there will be injuries," he said.

"You don't wish that on anyone but that's the likelihood."

The Wallabies brains trust will continue monitoring the condition and form of those outside the squad and Deans said players needed to be ready to answer any SOS from selectors.

"You just hope that anyone who doesn't make it holds on to that prospect that they could get a call-up and they could end up playing in a key game," he said.

"These opportunities (to play in a World Cup) don't come around very often.

"But in the first instance there will be some disappointed good players."

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