Wallabies refuse to rush Pocock into action ahead of Bledisloe Cup

David Pocock has been ruled out of club rugby cameo in Sydney or Canberra as the Wallabies superstar continues his rehabilitation race to be fit for the World Cup.

Pocock is edging closer to his first game in five months, sparking speculation he could seek game time domestically as a warm-up before the Bledisloe Cup.

But the champion flanker and the Wallabies are refusing to rush his comeback after a calf injury prematurely ended his Super Rugby career and limited him to three games for the ACT Brumbies this season.

David Pocock won't return through club rugby as had been speculated. Credit: Stu Walmsley/Rugby AU Media

Pocock is still expected to join the Wallabies at their Perth camp in preparation for the Test against the All Blacks on August 10. Whether he plays any part in either Bledisloe match will be decided by Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and his medical staff with the long-term view of having Pocock available for World Cup duties in September.

The Wallabies have three internationals left before their World Cup-opener against Fiji on September 21.

It was hoped Pocock would be fit to play at least one of those three matches to prove his fitness before the World Cup squad is finalised.

The 31-year-old has played just three games in the past eight months. His last game was for the Brumbies on March 8.

It is believed Pocock could still be at least two weeks away from getting game time, limiting his chances to prove himself on the international stage.

"I wanted to stay away from putting a date on it, there's been too many dates put on it already," Cheika said earlier this week. "On Friday he ran at full game speed and he's getting everything sorted out so we'll see how he recovers. He needs to do a whole week with the team and once he's done that he'll be right."

World Cup hopeful Joe Powell will play in Canberra's premier club competition on Saturday, but prop Allan Alaalatoa and Tom Banks have been ruled out.

Alaalatoa (foot) hasn't played since the Brumbies were knocked out of the Super Rugby finals last month.

The Uni-Norths Owls hoped he would join Pocock and Banks in their side as they aim to win their first finals match in almost 20 years.

But Alaalatoa will be held back an extra week after shouldering a heavy workload during the Super Rugby campaign and Banks is also unavailable.

"I gave [Pocock] a call and he said he wasn't available. He said if he was going to play for anyone, it would have been us," said Owls coach Sam Rolfe. "He's played in a World Cup final and arguably Australia's best player, it would have been a good experience for everyone. But the guys that got us to the final, it's good they get their opportunity."