The Wallabies captain James Horwill is hoping to be fit for the end-of-year tour of Europe after missing the whole of the international rugby season to date with a hamstring injury.
The Queensland lock suffered the injury in a freak incident in Super Rugby in May and is one of three Wallabies skippers lost to injury this year in what has become known as the "captain's curse".
Nathan Sharpe, the fourth player to hold the office, came through Saturday's 23-19 comeback victory over Argentina in the Rugby Championship unscathed, but is set to retire after the final home test of the season against New Zealand on October 20th.
Horwill says he's yet to start high intensity training or to test his recovery in contact but his return for the matches against England, Italy and Wales in November and December will be a boost to the Wallabies.
Although Australia have rallied from successive defeats to the All Blacks in the first two rounds of the Rugby Championship with comeback wins over South Africa and the Pumas, they have yet to set the rugby world alight this season.
The loss for the season of two stand-in captains, flanker David Pocock and scrumhalf Will Genia, have added to an injury toll that also includes James O'Connor, one of the most talented backs in the game on his day.
