Quade Cooper's rollercoaster rugby career has taken another downward turn, but Wallabies coach Michael Cheika believes the mercurial five-eighth can fight his way back into Test contention.
The 70-Test veteran was a shock omission from the Wallabies' extended train-on squad ahead of the Rugby Championship, starting on August 19 when the Wallabies play New Zealand at ANZ Stadium.
Cheika named a 38-man squad of players from the NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds, Melbourne Rebels and Western Force after their Super Rugby seasons ended, with Brumbies to be added after their elimination from the tournament.
Cooper was sparingly used off the bench in the Wallabies three June Test and Cheika hadn't been impressed by his Super Rugby form.
"It was difficult for me because I've got a good relationship with him," Cheika said.
"I feel I was pretty instrumental in him coming back (from Europe) so it was a big call for me.
"He was obviously very disappointed and you'd want him to be disappointed, but I think he wanted to hear what I had to say to him so that he could get himself back into the team."
Asked if he was confident Cooper could fight his way back Cheika said: "I think it's definitely his character and what he'd do there."
Cheika said he's looking at Kurtley Beale as the back up to established five-eighth Bernard Foley, though he's primarily looking at the utility back as an inside centre.
Cooper's Reds' teammate, No.8 Scott Higginbotham, was also omitted despite starting in two of the three June Tests.
Cheika felt Higginbotham needed to have more impact on those games.
"I think there were some things in particular I wanted him to do, to bring to his game, to add to his game, to how he played with the Reds this season." Cheika said.
Beale, who recently ended a stint with English club Wasps, returns to a national squad for the first time since the 2015 World Cup final.
Locks Kane Duglas and Rob Simmons, who were Australia's starting locks in that game have also been recalled, along with Force props Pek Cowan and Tetera Faulkner, who are back in a national training group for the first time since their last Tests back in 2014.
Cheika included 11 uncapped players in the squad: Jermaine Ainsley, Sef Fa'agase, Adam Korczyk, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Jordan Uelese, Marika Koroibete, Campbell Magnay, Billy Meakes, Izaia Perese and Curtis Rona.
Not considered due to injury were Brumbies centre Kyle Godwin and Reds' forwards Lukhan Tui and James Slipper.
The players will train in their local state camps before coming together in Newcastle next Monday, where Cheika said the emphasis would be on conditioning.
Australian train-on squad: Forwards: Jermaine Ainsley, Adam Coleman, Pek Cowan, Jack Dempsey, Kane Douglas, Sef Fa'agase, Tetera Faulkner, Ned Hanigan, Richard Hardwick, Michael Hooper, Sekope Kepu, Adam Korczyk, Tolu Latu, Sean McMahon, Stephen Moore (capt), Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Izack Rodda, Rob Simmons, Lopeti Timani, Taniela Tupou, Jordan Uelese. Backs: Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Karmichael Hunt, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Campbell Magnay, Billy Meakes, Eto Nabuli, Sefa Naivalu, Izaia Perese, Nick Phipps, Curtis Rona.
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