Wallaby coach Michael Cheika says there have been no official moves to bring back towering lock Kane Douglas from Ireland but he says the former Waratah could be a World Cup factor if he returned to Australia in time.
The 202cm lock has been campaigning in Leinster amid reports the ARU is planning to seek his release under the Regulation 9 plan, which sees clubs release their talent during recognised Test windows.
It appears too late for Douglas to have any involvement in the first two matches of the Rugby Championship, against South Africa and Argentina, but the squad will be re-selected for the Bledisloe before the final cut is made ahead of the World Cup.
From the Wallabies camp on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, Cheika said he knew of no ARU approaches but had heard the 26-year-old was thinking of returning to Australia.
"I only know what I'm hearing ... I'm hearing there's some noise he wants to come home," Cheika said. "If he is coming back to Australia to play and signs with an Australian Super Rugby team, of course we'd be interested in providing a top-up. But I think he's still in contract in Europe."
Cheika said it would be up to Leinster to grant a release and there may be an appetite given the red-tape surrounding the use of foreign players.
"It's at the Leinster level. I think at the Irish level they're less keen to have foreign players in there. It's at their level," Cheika said.
"At this stage, in fairness to Kane, ... I've heard he's keen to come home. But we've got to see how that pans out. He has to have the intention to come back or he doesn't qualify.
"But time is of the essence. It's not like we can wait a couple of weeks and say 'come back when you feel like it'. But if he was fit and able, he'd be considered."
The Wallabies wasted no time on day one of their camp, undergoing a frenetic session at Kawana before returning for skills and kicking drills late in the afternoon.
Returning face Matt Giteau ran at 12 outside of Quade Cooper, who was heavily involved and looked sharp in some intense sessions.
Cheika will cut a further 10 players from the squad at the end of the week before the team moves to Brisbane ahead of the clash with the Boks on July 18.
