Wycliff Palu won’t be coming to the Wallabies' rescue any time soon, with the destructive No 8 rating himself no chance of making next month's end-of-season tour of Europe.
Palu's revealed plans to return from a knee reconstruction before the end of the year have been thwarted by a slower-than-expected recovery rate.
The Australian backrower is yet to run four months after undergoing surgery.
"I'm still on the bike and thrashing myself on the cardio machines," Palu told Sportal on Thursday.
"I hope to start running in the next two to four weeks but the European tour is a bit out of reach. I will be really pushing it to make it back for that."
Palu fears he will jeopardise his long-term future if he rushes a return.
"I think I'd make it worse if I was to go on that tour," he said.
"Originally I was setting my sights on making it back for that but after surgery they found it was worse than first thought."
"It wasn't just an everyday cruciate injury, there was a bit more damage than that."
"Guys usually start running by now but mine's just taking a lot longer."
Palu will now concentrate on the 2011 campaign with the Waratahs, using the Super 15 season as a launch-pad back into the Wallabies fold ahead of the World Cup.
The 28-year-old believes his enforced break may prove a blessing in disguise heading into a vital year for Australian rugby.
"Hopefully I will start running soon and get a full pre-season in at the Waratahs," he said.
"I'm pretty confident I will come back a lot better after having this break and having had a full pre-season."
The Wallabies have struggled to fill the void left by Palu, with Richard Brown failing to make the most of his opportunity and Scott Higginbotham battling injury.
Coach Robbie Deans has thrown young Western Force No 8 Ben McCalman into the fray for Saturday night's Tri-Nations clash with South Africa in Bloemfontein.
Palu backed McCalman's inclusion.
"He's a good young player. They've got nothing to lose by throwing in a young bloke and giving him a go at this level," he said.
"From what I've seen of him he looks a very good player."
"The more exposure the young guys get in the Test arena the better."