Injured Parramatta backrower Nathan Hindmarsh has been recalled into the Australian rugby league Tri-Nations squad just two weeks after coach Wayne Bennett said he would be a "burden" to the Kangaroos.

Hindmarsh was named by selectors late on Monday as a shock replacement for winger Timana Tahu, who was ruled out of the entire series with a hamstring injury suffered in Saturday's humbling 38-28 loss to New Zealand.

Hindmarsh stormed out of Kangaroos training a fortnight ago after being told his injured knee had not recovered enough for him to take part in the seven-week series.

At the time, coach Wayne Bennett said Hindmarsh would be a "burden" to the rest of the team if he toured.

But both Parramatta and ARL medical staff ruled the backrower was fit enough to play in the European stage of the tour despite Hindmarsh being deemed unavailable to play in Friday's rematch with the Kiwis in Auckland.

The seven-week series, which also features Great Britain, switches to England after Friday's clash.

"It has improved out of sight," Australian doctor Hugh Hazard said of the injury, suffered six weeks ago in the final round of the NRL season.

"He's got some rehab to do, but we hope that by the start of the European tour, his rehab will be sufficient to allow him to play.

"Three weeks ago, if he had of been put in at that time he would have been expected to do full training and all the other commitments and he was unable to do that at that time."

North Queensland winger Matt Sing or Penrith's Luke Rooney were widely tipped to replace Tahu in the squad, but selectors decided against the straight swap, boosting the forward pack instead.

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