Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will soon have an abundance of World Cup riches at his disposal with first-choice prop Ben Alexander the latest to emerge on the comeback trail.

Alexander's surgically-repaired right knee survived a 2km time trial at Griffith Oval yesterday in a positive sign ahead of a likely return for Sydney club side Eastwood this weekend.

The ACT Brumbies prop will be eased into the Shute Shield encounter with a 20-minute cameo against minnows Parramatta providing he emerges unscathed from scrum training.

It will be the 25-year-old's first game since being escorted off Canberra Stadium in agony during Australia's 49-3 win over Fiji on June 5.

Alexander hopes to press his case for inclusion on Australia's fourth Bledisloe Cup Test with the All Blacks in Hong Kong on October 30, along with November's spring tour to Europe.

All of a sudden, Australia's rugby stocks have transformed quicker than Shane Warne's receding hairline.

Presented with a thin list midway through the winter, Deans suddenly has several welcome selection quandaries heading into next year's World Cup.

Sekope Kepu (calf) will jostle with Alexander for a spot in the front row, while hooker Tatafu Polota Nau (shoulder) will challenge for the No2 jersey.

When James Horwill's shoulder problem clears up the Queenslander will battle for a second row spot with Dan Vickerman, Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Mark Chisholm and Rob Simmons.

The Brumbies' Peter Kimlin will also be vying for selection after playing his first game in 12 months due to shoulder nerve damage in ACT club rugby last weekend.

ACT captain Stephen Hoiles is among those in the back-rower's mix.

Hoiles is in his first week back of running after an achilles operation cut short his return to the national fold.

Competition is just as fierce in the backs.

Digby Ioane (shoulder), Rob Horne (elbow), Peter Hynes (leg) and Cameron Shepherd (hamstring) are among those who will be in the mix once fully fit.

For more on this story, including details of Alexander's recovery, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times.