Wallabies coach Michael Cheika named Giteau in his 36-man train-on squad for the first Bledisloe Cup Test on August 20 and said he was confident the 102-Test playmaker would be home in time to train with the Test side on Monday.

Giteau, one of the highest paid players in Europe, will miss the start of Toulon's season, prompting owner Mourad Boudjellal to threaten again to not pay his marquee player for the period he is with Australia.

The move would be seen to be against the spirit of World Rugby's Regulation Nine, which compels clubs to release players for national duty under certain conditions. There is precedent for World Rugby to intervene in the matter, as it did after it emerged Fijian players had been financially blackmailed to stay with their clubs ahead of the 2011 World Cup.

But for World Rugby to intervene, the ARU would have to go into bat for Giteau, who sacrificed a reported $250,000 when the same thing happened during last year's World Cup. It is understood the ARU have made no such move, but are aware that avenue is open to them should the stalemate continue. In the first instance the ARU would raise the dispute with the French federation, who would contact Toulon. If that was unsuccessful, World Rugby would intervene.

Drew Mitchell, also named in the train-on squad on Friday, could also be in the same boat. The Toulon winger is returning from a groin injury and is not taking a salary from Toulon under injury provisions in his contract, but if he makes a return to play during the Rugby Championship he will also be docked pay.

Cheika said it had been a drawn-out process to secure their release.

"Matt and Drew, who are in that situation, and all the lads who have come from overseas – it wasn't a straightforward chit-chat with the club owners to get them back – they [the players] have pushed those discussions," Cheika said.

"Players are starting to realise that it's not just about money, you've got to make the most of your career on all fronts, achievement is why we're playing the game. I don't think anyone's playing this game for a job, not at this level.

"Maybe the years that Matt missed out on playing for Australia, imagine how much that must have hurt him, if this is what he's doing now to play for Australia."

Cheika could blood up to four more uncapped players next month after losing prop Greg Holmes, back-rowers Liam Gill and Dave Dennis and winger Taqele Naiyarovoro to overseas clubs. The Australian coach blasted the tactics of player agents, who he claimed negotiate deals without fully informing their clients of their contractual obligations to the ARU.

"Agents have been selling off players and promising them to clubs overseas," he said. "I spoke to the Toulon owner, he didn't know Liam Gill was in a contract til the 31st of December. The players are being put in really difficult situations. In these instances this year with these players, I really didn't want to let them go, but these players have been put in the middle of difficult situations by their agents by promising overseas clubs certain things that they're not certain they can deliver."

Waratahs prop Tom Robertson, Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa, Rebels back-rower Lopeti Timani and winger Reece Hodge are the rookies who made the train-on line up. Brumbies No.12 Christian Leali'ifano missed out, and Wycliff Palu was also not included after telling Cheika he did not want to play Test rugby anymore.

The Wallabies coach paid tribute to Palu who, while not always appreciated by Australian fans in recent years, was consistently a player's player winner inside the dressing rooms of the Wallabies and Waratahs.

"He's one of the greatest servants we've had, he's done so much for Australian rugby," Cheika said.

"He is for me personally, one of the great players I've coached, not only because of the way he's played the game, but just his attitude towards the team and what he does for his team. He's all class and it's always understated."

Wallabies train-on squad (* marks uncapped player):

Allan Alaalatoa* (0 Tests)

Adam Ashley-Cooper (114 Tests)

Adam Coleman (1 Test)

Quade Cooper (58 Tests)

Kane Douglas (23 Tests)

Scott Fardy (33 Tests)

Israel Folau (41 Tests)

Bernard Foley (30 Tests)

Nick Frisby (2 Tests)

Will Genia (66 Tests)

Matt Giteau (102 Tests)

James Hanson (10 Tests)

Dane Haylett-Petty (3 Tests)

Reece Hodge* (0 Tests)

Michael Hooper (54 Tests)

Rob Horne (32 Tests)

Sekope Kepu (66 Tests)

Samu Kerevi (2 Tests)

Tevita Kuridrani (34 Tests)

Ben McCalman (48 Tests)

Sean McMahon (9 Tests)

Drew Mitchell (70 Tests)

Luke Morahan (2 Tests)

Stephen Moore (c) (105 Tests)

Dean Mumm (46 Tests)

Nick Phipps (42 Tests)

David Pocock (56 Tests)

Tatafu Polota-Nau (64 Tests)

Tom Robertson* (0 Tests)

Rob Simmons (62 Tests)

Scott Sio (18 Tests)

Will Skelton (15 Tests)

James Slipper (77 Tests)

Toby Smith (4 Tests)

Lopeti Timani* (0 Tests)