Douglas is likely to be left out of the Wallabies squad on Thursday. Source: Brett Hemmings / Getty Images
KANE Douglas wants to play more Tests for Australia before — and after — he takes up a contract in Ireland at year's end but the Waratahs lock is set to be left out of Wallabies squad for the June Test series.
Coach Ewen McKenzie will on Thursday name a 32-man squad for the three-game series against France, with Douglas' omission and the call-up of several Melbourne newcomers the likely points of interest to emerge.
In a squad with one eye on development for the 2015 World Cup, Rebels winger Tom English, lock Luke Jones and former Chiefs prop Toby Smith shape as first-time Wallaby squad members, along with NSW giant Will Skelton.
Despite lock being a position of shallow depth, Douglas' announcement he'll play for Leinster next year will see the 14-Test forward left out, under the same McKenzie policy that will also see incumbent Test captain Ben Mowen omitted for signing his next contract in France.
The Wallabies coach says while Douglas and Mowen will remain on call for "times of need", McKenzie will prioritise those committed to Australian rugby and use the French series to give new faces exposure to the Test arena.
"Whatever happens, happens. I would love to wear the gold jersey and if I get the chance to play this year, I would do all I can to make the team go as well as it can go," Douglas said.
"I just have to keep playing good footy and if they choose me, they choose me. But if they find reasons not to, then so be it.
"When my contract ends in Ireland, in the back of my head I would like to think I would like to come back and wear it again."
With incumbent Test locks James Horwill and Rob Simmons only in fair form — and with rookies in reserve — there would be a strong argument to pick Douglas, who is in arguably his strongest form of five seasons with NSW in Super Rugby.
The counter-argument is that would only delay the call-up of those same rookies by a year but NSW assistant coach Nathan Grey said Wallaby fans wanted the strongest team on the field at all times.
"My belief is, as a Wallaby supporter, I want the best XV players in the country putting that jersey on whenever it is available. I don't care where they are going," Grey said.
"If he is available to play, I have no doubt his contribution would be the same as if he was staying for next year."
A string of injuries at lock could still see Douglas called-up, as France-bound Sitaleki Timani was last season.
Otherwise the vast potential of Skelton is set to be explored; with several lineout jumping backrowers covering for the 135kg giant's lack of hops.
A shortage of fit wingers helps, but English's strong defence and ability to beat a man has had him in the Wallaby mix all season, and ditto the industrious Jones.
Smith, 25, won two titles with the Chiefs but has Australian parents and locking down the eligibility of the highly-rated loosehead prop would undoubtedly be a consideration for McKenzie.
The rotten luck of Force centre Kyle Godwin continued on Wednesday, with the No.12 denied a likely selection after being ruled out with a PCL knee injury. A shoulder reconstruction ruled Godwin out of last year's Spring Tour.
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