In the surest sign yet that he is close to deciding on his strongest possible line-up, Deans is set to name an unchanged side for only the third time in his 27-Test reign for Sunday's clash with Scotland at Murrayfield.

Deans is notorious for late changes of heart, but yesterday ran the same team at training that started in last Monday's 20-20 draw with Ireland in Dublin with the exception of fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper, who sat out the session nursing a quad strain.

But, describing his injury as nothing more than a dead leg, Ashley-Cooper vowed to be fit to tackle Scotland as the Wallabies look to maintain their unbeaten run on the four-Test tour of Britain and Ireland.

Significantly, young flanker David Pocock looks likely to retain his place ahead of George Smith after his tireless man-of-the-match performance against Six Nations champions Ireland.

Deans has rotated the two flankers in the past three Tests and Smith was due for a recall this weekend before Pocock seemingly forced the coach's hand at Croke Park, where he played all but the few minutes of the match he spent in the blood bin.

If Deans does indeed announce an unchanged line-up tomorrow, it would confirm his changing of the guard.

The only other two times he didn't tinker with his starting team were after Australia's narrow opening Tri Nations loss to New Zealand in Auckland this year and then after the Wallabies beat the world champion Springboks in Brisbane.

Clearly, Deans is pleased with the progression of his side, despite the immense disappointment of having its grand slam hopes dashed in Dublin.

''It's evident that we're making headway, we believe, but we're hugely frustrated that we're not getting the benefit of that,'' Deans said.

The only two players unavailable for selection who would ordinarily command inclusion on Sunday are recently-appointed vice-captain Berrick Barnes, who returned home from the tour with an ankle injury, and veteran lock Nathan Sharpe, who missed the trip to undergo shoulder surgery.