The Wallabies will monitor the fitness of key forwards Rocky Elsom and James Horwill as they continue their build-up to Saturday's crucial Tri-Nations Test in Durban.

Australia have set up camp in Cape Town as they prepare for the clash, which they need to win to realistically keep their Tri-Nations title hopes alive.

Flanker Elsom and lock Horwill are both carrying foot injuries but have resumed light training and coach Robbie Deans is hopeful both will be fit for what is expected to be a physical encounter at ABSA Stadium.

Hugh McMeniman and Dean Mumm are the likely replacements if needed.

Fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper is very doubtful to make his return from surgery on a broken hand with Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner in the frame for the No.15 jersey.

Deans will make another international head coaching debut, this time in South Africa, where he had an 11-8 record with Super 14 side the Crusaders.

He said the challenge of Test match rugby in the Republic was a significant one.

"There is a distinction between Super 14 and Test match rugby," he said.

"In Test matches you've got a collection of all the best players and the best players bring all the best rugby qualities of intensity, attitude.

"You don't get to earn a national jersey without having a mentality. You certainly don't get to stay there if you haven't got an attitude that serves you well so straight away the intensity goes up.

"Just representing your nation makes it that way but also you've got the best gathering of players in terms of their skill set as well, their ability to execute and play the game at pace so it is different - but it's also more of the same, it's the same game."

Winger Peter Hynes will also play is first Test in South Africa.

"There's never an easy Test match," he said. "They're physical, they're fast.

"Away from home, at the end of the day it's a little bit different from home, obviously different preparation, different country, different climate but you just can't let that get to you.

"If you start worrying about things like that you stop worrying about the game and our focus is the game this weekend, not where we are, not the conditions or not anything peripheral to that."

Australia have not won in South Africa since 2000.

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