Berrick Barnes is unlikely to know before the weekend whether he will miss the Wallabies' grand slam tour of the UK and Ireland after being ruled out of tomorrow's Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks with an ankle injury.
In a massive blow to Australia's chances of avoiding its first 4-0 series whitewash against New Zealand since 1962, Barnes was rushed to hospital in Tokyo yesterday for emergency scans after hearing a crack when he rolled his left ankle at training.
Initial fears were allayed when X-rays later cleared the newly-appointed Wallabies vice-captain of a fracture.
But Barnes probably won't know the full extent of his injury until the swelling subsides over the next two days.
''If it's just a ligament injury in isolation, it might be just a couple of weeks. He will stay with us if it's a two or three-week injury,'' Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said. ''If it's syndesmosis, that's more sinister.''
Should he be sent back to Australia, it would be a devastating blow to the 23-year-old midfield general, as well as a huge setback to the Wallabies' prospects of completing a grand slam sweep of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Barnes lasted less than 20 minutes of last year's spring tour of Europe before breaking down against Italy in Padova with a knee injury.
The Wallabies have already sent young outside back Rob Horne home this week after he suffered a recurrence of his chronic hamstring injury, with Brumbies centre Tyrone Smith joining the squad yesterday.
More immediately, Barnes's scratching prompted Deans to reshuffle his back line, promoting teenager James O'Connor to start at fullback and moving Adam Ashley-Cooper to inside centre.
Quade Cooper has replaced O'Connor on the bench, while star flyhalf Matt Giteau will assume the vice-captaincy.
Winger Digby Ioane said the Wallabies were confident they could overcome the disruption, but were also disappointed for Barnes.
''I hope he's alright,'' Ioane said. ''I heard he's going to be alright in two weeks, but I'm not sure. I hope he comes back as soon as possible.
''It is a big loss because he is the go-to man, along with Matt Giteau. They can mix it up and change between five-eighth and 12.
''But Coops is dangerous on the ball. He's more of a go-forward man. He can break the line and stuff, whereas Barnesy's more of a ball player, a smart player.''
Ryan Cross, who will now partner Ashley-Cooper in the centres.
''We've been training well and everyone's ready to go. Obviously you don't want this to happen but hopefully we can adapt,'' Cross said. ''Berrick and Gits share the load a bit so it's going to be up to the rest of the back line to take up what Berrick was doing.''
AAP
TOMORROW
Bledisloe Cup Game 4: Australia v New Zealand at Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan, 7.30pm. TV time: Live on both Fox Sports3 and Prime.