The Wallabies have been dealt a major blow, with flyhalf Carter Gordon (calf) and Tom Hooper (shoulder) out of Saturday's clash with France in Brisbane.
Gordon will also miss next week's match against Italy in Perth after both picked up knocks in their narrow defeat to Ireland in Sydney, which kicked off the Nations Championship.
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25-year-old Gordon limped off after 57 minutes of the contest, with initial reports suggesting it was cramp.
However, scans have picked up a further injury, ruling the Reds playmaker out of a Brisbane homecoming against France.
Hooper came off the bench on his return from England, having spent the season with Exeter.
“After cramping during the Test against Ireland, scans have revealed Carter Gordon has suffered a calf strain and won’t be available for the next two Tests of the Nations Championship,” a statement from the Wallabies read.
“Tom Hooper has also been ruled out with a shoulder injury.”
Western Force playmaker Ben Donaldson is the most likely to take Gordon’s place in the starting side, last starting in the gold jersey in 2024 against Argentina.
Donaldson came off the bench in the loss to Ireland, twice missing penalties late, including a tough long-ranger after the siren for the win.
His elevation to the starting side would likely see debutant Declan Meredith come onto the bench. Meredith was called into his maiden Wallabies squad off the back of a dominant season for the ACT Brumbies, with the Cairns product starting the majority of games ahead of 2025 debutant Tane Edmed.
Western Force recruit Harry McLaughlin-Phillips has been drafted in as further cover.
For Hooper, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has several options to cover him on the bench.
This includes ACT Brumbies number eight Charlie Cale and Western Force flankers Carlo Tizzano and Nick Champion de Crespigny.
