LONDON: The Wallabies are putting faith in their back-line depth to rise to the challenge against Wales as they brace for combination changes, but are confident veteran Matt Giteau won't join a growing injury list.
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The Wallabies face their biggest stumbling block of the World Cup when they face Wales at Twickenham on Saturday night (Sunday morning AEDT).
Vice-captain Michael Hooper is suspended, while the back line has hit an injury hurdle with Israel Folau (ankle), Rob Horne (shoulder) and Giteau (ribs) all fighting to be fit for the clash.
The Wallabies and Wales have confirmed their place in the quarter-finals. But the winner of the pool of death decider will get a smoother path through the play-offs and avoid New Zealand and South Africa until the final.
Giteau was left writhing in pain after England playmaker Owen Farrell hit him without the ball in the Wallabies' 33-13 win last weekend.
ACT Brumbies pivot Matt Toomua looms as the most likely candidate to fill Giteau's shoes if the 98-Test veteran is unable to take his place at inside centre against Wales.
Giteau has been in superb form since the ARU changed its eligibility rules to allow overseas-based players to be selected for the Wallabies. He has formed a strong midfield combination with Bernard Foley, who scored 28 points against England, but veteran star Adam Ashley-Cooper was confident the Wallabies had the depth the cover any back-line absences.
"It is something we really haven't had in a long time. We are going to be tested this weekend," Ashley-Cooper said. "There are question marks around Izzy and his ankle, Rob Horne and his shoulder, Gits didn't train this morning because of his ribs, I am sure he'll be right. But we are now calling on those guys who have been waiting patiently. They certainly have the talent to start Test match football and we will be relying on them to start this weekend."
Kurtley Beale and Drew Mitchell loom as the likely replacements for Folau and Horne. But coach Michael Cheika will give each player a chance to prove their full fitness.
Horne showed his courage when he jumped into the Wallabies' defensive line against England, despite a partial dislocated shoulder. "Defensively he is a pretty important member of that front line 'D'. He is a great defender, is very aggressive," Ashley-Cooper said.
"But we have got the depth to cover that. Matty Toomua is a great defender, so I am sure he could fill that role if needed, Tevita [Kuridrani], myself, we can always reshuffle and work as a midfield combination there."
Wales have been hit by several injuries to their World Cup campaign, but are expected to have a full squad to pick from for the match against Australia.The winner of the Wallabies-Wales contest will finish at the top of pool A and set up a quarter-final contest with either Scotland or Japan.
The loser will switch to the other side of the draw and play South Africa in the quarter-final before a potential showdown with New Zealand in the semi-final.
"We saw they [Wales] picked up a couple of injuries against England but those guys who came in made an impact and the guys who had to start last week against Fiji did really well," said Wallabies attack coach Stephen Larkham.
"It was a tough match, but in the second half they kept their composure really well. For us, like I said Rob's in doubt for this week and most likely he won't play and the other injury concern is Izzy. To turn it around, with our squad, they are pretty significant injuries so we are focusing internally and not on the problems the other team has."
