Wallabies coach Michael Cheika prepares to cull his squad for The Rugby Championship

PLAYERS remain in the dark as to who will be on the chopping block as Wallabies coach Michael Cheika prepares to swing the selection axe on Friday.

SUNSHINE COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 07: Wallabies coach Michael Cheika talks to players during an Australian Wallabies training session at Sunshine Coast Stadium on July 7, 2015 in Sunshine Coast, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

WITH Wallabies coach Michael Chieka preparing to swing the selection axe, his players remain in the dark as to who among them faces the chopping block.

Cheika will cull a quarter of his 40-man squad on Friday ahead of next week’s opening Rugby Championship clash against South Africa at Suncorp Stadium.

But with the Wallabies still shuffling through as many combinations as possible at their Sunshine Coast training base, No 8 Ben McCalman says it is still too early to tell who will go or what the team facing the Springboks might look like.

Ben McCalman of the Wallabies takes a lineout ball during a training session at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

“It’s very unclear what the final make-up will be,” McCalman told reporters on Thursday.

“I’m sure Cheik and the coaches have some ideas but it’s just (about) competing hard at the moment.

“They’re certainly giving nothing away but I guess the positive is there’s a lot of depth in Australian rugby at the moment in certain positions.”

It is difficult to glean much insight from Cheika’s 15-on-15 opposed sessions given how rapidly players have swapped positions.

But he may be close to at least settling on parts of his backline, with former Queensland teammates Quade Cooper and Will Genia spending plenty of time together alongside centres Matt Giteau and Tevita Kuridrani.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika talks to players during a training session at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

McCalman is likely to find himself on the right side of Friday’s cut with his main rival Wycliff Palu restricted to light duties, opening up the possibility of a start against South Africa for the Western Force hardman.

Also wrapped in cotton wool are Waratahs pair Israel Folau and Kurtley Beale, who have been afforded an extended rest after the Super Rugby finals.

Winger Rob Horne is in the thick of a seven-way battle for a wide spot and said there had been tangible benefits to being kept on tenterhooks.

“It’s hugely contested, like every position,” he said.

“But what better way do you want?

“We’ve got guys that are all Test quality and someone’s going to miss out.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.

“We’re going to make each other better and that’s the way it is.

“We’re going to need everyone. Rugby’s a sport where it’s opportunity-based and guys fall over and that’s just the nature of it.”

The Wallabies are expected to announce which 10 players have been trimmed from the squad on Friday afternoon, before moving to Brisbane to finalise their preparations for the Test.

Meanwhile, centre Jean de Villiers continued a remarkable recovery from a career-threatening injury when he was picked by South Africa for the first of five pre-Rugby World Cup matches.

The Springboks play a World XV at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town Saturday in a non-cap game ahead of the Rugby Championship and World Cup.

De Villiers was included among eight replacements and coach Heyneke Meyer told a media briefing that the centre would play.

There were fears that the 34-year-old South Africa skipper would be forced to retire after suffering a knee dislocation and ligament damage during a defeat to Wales in Cardiff last November.

Springboks captain Jean de Villiers has been named on the bench to play the World XV.

While his Springbok teammates played in Super Rugby or for European clubs, de Villiers underwent extensive rehabilitation.

And his determination to wear the green and gold again was rewarded when Meyer gave him a chance to play for the first time since the injury.

“Jean is a massive asset to South African rugby and it is wonderful that we can give him some game time from the bench,” said Meyer.

“His return is testament to his incredible work ethic and professional approach to the game.

“He has put in hours of extra work to get here and is a great example to any player on how to put yourself in the best possible position to recover.”

With de Villiers starting on the bench, the captaincy has been given to 38-year-old lock Victor Matfield with scrum-half Ruan Pienaar vice-captain.

Meyer chose two uncapped players — starting outside centre Jesse Kriel and replacement tighthead prop Vincent Koch — in his matchday 23.

Jesse Kriel of the Bulls in action against the Cheetahs.

Kriel emerged as an exciting running full-back for the Bulls in the just-completed Super 15 and Meyer believes he can cope with the positional switch.

“Jesse starred at outside centre for the Junior Springboks last season and I am sure he will slot in easily,” the coach said.

Meyer has been unable during four years in charge to find a permanent understudy for veteran tight-head Jannie du Plessis.

Now Koch gets his chance after consistently outstanding Super Rugby scrummaging for the Stormers.

Notable absentees are scrum-half Fourie du Preez, flanker Willem Alberts and No 8 Duane Vermeulen, who are all injured.

New Zealand-born World XV coach Robbie Deans is yet to name his starting line-up. — with AFP

SPRINGBOKS (1-15): Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield (c), Francois Louw, Marcell Coetzee, Warren Whiteley, Ruan Pienaar, Handre Pollard, Bryan Habana, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, JP Pietersen, Willie le Roux

Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Koch, Oupa Mohoje, Schalk Burger, Cobus Reinach, Patrick Lambie, Jean de Villiers

Originally published as Wallabies coach Michael Cheika prepares to cull his squad for The Rugby Championship