Star Wallaby flank Rocky Elsom will be given till next Tuesday to pass a fitness Test, as he remains on the "doubtful" list ahead of the demanding two-Test Tri-Nations trip to South Africa later this month.

The Wallabies play the Springboks in Durban on August 23 and in Johannesburg a week later in what may well be the tournament deciders, if the Boks can beat the All Blacks in their Cape Town showdown on August 16.

However, the Wallabies' blindside star, who missed last Saturday's 10-39 reversal against the All Blacks in Auckland, is unsure whether he will recover in time from the foot injury he sustained in the 34-19 win against New Zealand in Sydney two weeks ago.

The Wallabies reassemble in Sydney next Wednesday, before leaving for South Africa next Friday. But a call on Elsom's fitness will be made next Tuesday.

"I'd love to play, but I've never had this injury [ligament damage] before so I don't know the go," Elsom told AFP. "I feel it is getting better, but it's hard to say. I'll have to wait and see."

The Wallabies sorely missed Elsom, who is one of the best number six flanks in world rugby.

Walla coach Robbie Deans experimented with two openside flanks, George Smith and Phil Waugh, against the All Blacks, a moved that backfired when the Wallabies were dominated physically in the forwards.

If Elsom is fit, he is expected to be rushed into the starting line-up. But if he is not ready, Deans is likely to start Hugh McMeniman at blindside flank.

365