But Test veterans Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell are poised to reap the benefits of the Australian Rugby Union's relaxed eligibility rules with a call home from France as early as this week, while the Wallabies' Fijian contingent could be boosted by the inclusion of bolters Taqele Naiyaravoro and Samu Kerevi when the camp assembles on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

George Smith is also expected to be called home to bolster the Wallabies' back row stocks, but coach Michael Cheika may wait until later in the Rugby Championship to draft him in to the squad.

Hunt was a surprise inclusion in coach Michael Cheika's wider training group earlier this month after injury and a cocaine scandal interrupted his first season in rugby with the Queensland Reds.

A consistent run at centre at the back end of the Reds' season finally allowed the tri-code star to string together a handful of games and Cheika encouraged his development with an invitation to train in a 22-man group drafted from the Reds, Force and Rebels at the end of the Super Rugby regular season. While Cheika was considering Hunt as an alternate fullback option under fellow code-hopper Israel Folau, it is now unlikely the 28-year-old will make his debut this year, with Cheika leaning towards giving Hunt a cleaner run in next season. It is understood revelations about the extent of Hunt's cocaine use last year will have nothing to do with his selection or otherwise when the squad is named at the end of this week.

The QRU and ARU are not believed to have been caught unawares by any of the detail published in a News Ltd report on Sunday, detailing the sordid extent of Hunt's end-of-season drug and alcohol binge, having been briefed in full by Hunt and his legal team at the time of Hunt's arrest and subsequent court case back in March. Both unions declined to comment on the report but are standing by their $600,000-a-year signing.

Drew Mitchell could be a beneficiary of Cheika's call on Hunt, as the 63-Test winger has played some rugby at fullback and, like Toulon teammate Matt Giteau, has the added value of being able to kick off his left boot. Both players are expected to be called home as early as this week to join a 34- or 35-man Wallabies squad when they go into camp on Sunday.

Veteran No.7 Smith is also expected to be called up to bolster the Wallabies back row stocks, but may not be drafted until the lead up to the first Bledisloe Cup Test, which is in Sydney on August 8.

While both Michael Hooper and David Pocock finished the Super Rugby season injury free and in bracing form, Smith's versatility across all back row positions and his vast experience at Test level and in European rugby, will make him an attractive choice for Cheika in a World Cup year.

The Wallabies coach is also poised to name a number of uncapped players in the squad, with Waratahs winger Naiyaravoro and Reds centre Samu Kerevi the frontrunners for call-ups.

Fijian-born, Brisbane-raised Kerevi was named in the wider training squad and has spent the past week in camp and training out of Ballymore in Brisbane, while Naiyaravoro was in commanding form for the Waratahs in just his first full season back in rugby after a stint with Wests Tigers.

Cheika could also name his captain this week, and is expected to choose between veteran hooker Stephen Moore and Hooper.