Nathan Sharpe's prospects of reaching the 100-test milestone at the rugby World Cup are in serious jeopardy after the veteran lock was omitted from the Wallabies squad to play the All Blacks in Saturday's Tri-Nations test in Auckland.
The 33-year-old Western Force captain joined five-eighth and fellow longstanding Wallaby Matt Giteau on the outer when head coach Robbie Deans named his 24-man tour party today.
Sharpe, who has been capped 95 times, has been overlooked in favour of the experienced Dan Vickerman and Waratahs rookie Sitaleki Timani.
The Queensland Reds duo of James Horwill and Rob Simmons are expected to start in the second row at Eden Park.
Sharpe and Sitaleki were dropped after Samoa achieved a historic win in Sydney on July 17 while Vickerman made his comeback via the bench against the Pacific islanders in what was his first test since he embarked on a study sabbatical to England's Cambridge University in 2008.
In other additions to the 20-man squad from the last-start victory over South Africa in Sydney on July 23, halfback Luke Burgess returns from injury to replace Nick Phipps as back up to Will Genia.
Wing Lachie Turner is also fit again while Timani earns a reprieve after an ineffectual debut against the Samoans.
There is still no room for Giteau, who was axed after playing first five-eighth against the Samoans.
His Cup prospects took another blow today when a concussion-prone Berrick Barnes announced he was ready to try and reclaim his place in the squad.
Barnes pulled out of the later stages of the Super rugby season after suffering repeated head knocks but has made an encouraging return through Sydney club rugby.
The Wallabies, who have not won at Auckland's Eden Park since 1986, depart for Auckland tomorrow.
Wallabies squad: Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Pekahou Cowan, Rocky Elsom, Anthony Faingaa, Saia Faingaa, Will Genia, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, James Horwill, Digby Ioane, Sekope Kepu, Pat McCabe, Ben McCalman, Stephen Moore, James O'Connor, David Pocock, Rob Simmons, Sitaleki Timani, Lachie Turner, Dan Vickerman.
