Tom Banks' World Cup dream has a heartbeat, even if it is faint.
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The ACT Brumbies fullback is back in the frame after Jordan Petaia suffered a hamstring injury at a training camp in New Caledonia and was flown back to Australia.
It is hoped the 19-year-old has avoided the sort of damage that will rule him out of the World Cup in Japan, but he will miss a warm-up Test against Samoa.
Wallabies medical staff have taken an ultra-cautious approach with Petaia given his injury history. A hamstring tweak on last year's spring tour cost him a Test debut against Italy, while he featured in just two Super Rugby games this season due to a Lisfranc (foot) injury.
Banks is waiting in the wings should the 19-year-old get bad news and is training with the extended squad in Noumea.
Former Wallabies captain George Gregan has been helping halfbacks Nic White and Will Genia, while Joe Powell is also part of the training group.
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Wallabies players have been rising at about 5.30am to do fitness training before their World Cup opener against Fiji on September 21 in Sapporo.
"It's very Michael Cheika-like and it's right up there in terms of intensity," said back-rower Jack Dempsey.
"We're up at the crack of dawn. We've had our head down most of the time working hard and making gains."