Wallaby coach Robbie Deans is confident flyhalf Matt Giteau will be fit to face the All Blacks in next week's Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup double header in Sydney, despite the No.10 sitting out the training session on Thursday with a bruised thigh.

Giteau suffered the injury in last Saturday's 17-29 loss to South Africa, but Deans said the player missed training as a "precautionary measure".

Despite drafting Waratahs flyhalf Kurtley Beale into his squad, Deans says Giteau is in no doubt for the big Bledisloe Cup clash in Sydney.

"He has just got a corked thigh. It's just preventative," Deans said, adding that he was hopeful Australia's key playmaker is able to resume training within the next two days.

"We're just not too sure to what extent yet."

Meanwhile, flank rocky Elsom joined the Australian squad for the first time since returning to the Wallabies fold in June.

The 26-year-old loose forward is expected to be rushed straight into the starting line-up to face the All Blacks after recovering from bone-bruising of the knee.

Elsom emerged from training with an ice pack on his right knee, but there was confidence he would be fit to bolster the Wallabies' loose forward trio.

The combative flank has not played since suffering deep knee bruising in his man-of-the-match performance for Leinster in their Heineken Cup Final win over Leicester six weeks ago in England.

Deans said the injury was more sinister than first thought, and it had been a frustrating comeback for Elsom, who is being considered at No.8.

"He's enjoying being back out there and he's upped the ante in terms of the amount of work he's done.

"He's very confident at the moment, so as long as there's no setback between now and next week I'd imagine we'd be considering him.

"He was a big part of our game last year when he was fit, (but) it won't be easy for him because it's been a while since he's played."

Said Elsom: "Everything's fine at the moment, I'm pretty happy with it and I didn't have any problems."

365

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