Rugby World Cup-winning coach Bob Dwyer has urged the Wallabies to punt on the rest of their injured stars after prop Benn Robinson's miracle bid to make the tournament fell flat.

Robinson will have knee surgery on Tuesday after giving up hope on an unlikely comeback from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in time for the showcase event's kick-off on September 9.

The 42-Test frontrower was only seen as an extremely slim chance of selection after suffering the injury before the Samoa Test last month but was devastated to miss a second straight World Cup after being an unlucky late omission four years ago.

"Heading in for surgery tomorrow !! Pushed really hard to make it but knee just isn't right !! Very disheartening !!" Robinson tweeted on Monday night.

The world-class loose-head's scratching opens the door for Salesi Maafu or Ben Daley to snare the fourth prop's spot in Australia's 30-man squad, to be named on Thursday.

Sekope Kepu and Ben Alexander, who impressed in the 14-9 victory over South Africa in Durban on Saturday, as well as returning Queensland tight-head James Slipper are seen as certainties.

Slipper (ankle) and fellow Reds prop Daley (shoulder) are among seven grounded Wallabies who will undergo fitness assessments on Wednesday before coach Robbie Deans makes his final selection.

Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, No.8 Wycliff Palu, winger Drew Mitchell, playmaker Berrick Barnes and centre Rob Horne, all viewed as potential Test starters during the Super Rugby season, are also under clouds.

While some former players have cautioned against selecting too many injured stars, Dwyer believes Australia simply won't win in New Zealand if they leave several of their rehabbing big guns at home.

"It think we need all our best players if we are going to make a good fist of this," Dwyer told AAP on Monday.

"We're not that good that we can play without them so the sooner they get back the better."

Queensland coach McKenzie expects some big names to be disappointed as Deans and fellow selectors Jim Williams and David Nucifora will be wary about choosing all the returning stars.

McKenzie said the difficult task was also complicated by the number of frontrowers on the casualty list, while there was no guarantee an explosive running player like Mitchell would return near his best in time.

"I'm sure that will be front of mind in their deliberation," he said.

"It's where (players) are confidence-wise as much as anything else; you can be physically fit but whether you have the confidence to take that into the fray.

"The confidence is not going to be there on day one.

"There's no doubt they can take some but they've got eight guys in the same category."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP