Senior lock Nathan Sharpe said on Thursday he needed shoulder surgery. As a result he will miss the Wallabies' tour of Japan, as well as the Grand Slam tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The Western Force captain, the most experienced second row forward in the Australian squad, injured his shoulder against New Zealand in Sydney in August, but had been setting himself for the tour.

However, he said will undergo an operation on Monday, which is expected to sideline him for another three to six months.

"I had a period from when I injured it to this training camp to try and get it right and it's just not improving," Sharpe said.

"Obviously, there is a structural element to it. The surgeon will get in there and have a look at it and he will assess what he needs to do."

Sharpe's Force teammate, wing Nick Cummins, has also been ruled out of Wallabies' tour contention with a foot ligament injury.

Coach Robbie Deans is to announce his 35-man tour squad on Friday.

The Wallabies will play New Zealand in Tokyo on 31 October, England on 7 November, Ireland on 15 November, Scotland on 21 November and Wales on 28 November.

Sharpe's forced withdrawal has left the Wallabies low in their stock of experienced specialist locks. James Horwill and Mark Chisholm filled the lock spots for the last three Tri-Nations Tests with Dean Mumm backing them up off the bench.

Injuries had previously denied Wallabies coach Robbie Deans and his fellow selectors a number of other potential contenders including Test rookie Peter Kimlin of the Brumbies, Waratah Will Caldwell and Western Force youngsters Sam Wykes and Tom Hockings.

"It's obviously an area where we are not over endowed in depth, so it [Sharpe's withdrawal] is a blow," Deans said.

"Historically, he [Sharpe] has always played well in the UK.

"It would have been nice to have him there, but it's an opportunity for someone new."

The Sydney University duo of Dave Dennis and Ben McCalman were called into the initial tour training squad of 43.

The two players have bolter stamped all over them, but at 192cm each they are probably more suited to the back row as they lack the presence two metre Sharpe.

With a dearth of specialist locks available, Deans acknowledged he may need to call upon some back rowers to step into the second row.

"If we get injuries in the near future, some of those players will have to potentially step in and cover that area," Deans said.

"But they showed today they are capable of that.

"The good thing is they've got a background, not only in terms of preparation, but also in a game.

"So if they are called on, they will be better for it."

Deans said he was happy with how the other second row contenders performed in the trial but would go back and look at the footage.

"But it's evident there was a fair amount of work being done around the ball, so those boys are in there," he said.

"There were some blokes who we haven't seen before, who did some good things."

Sharpe 31, has played 79 Tests, more than the combined tally of all the other second row forwards in the squad.