Wales and Premiership Rugby could be on a collision course over the availability of England-based players for next month's Test against the Wallabies.
Wales' interim head coach Rob Howley has revealed that winger George North and centre Jamie Roberts have told him they will be available to face the Wallabies in Cardiff on November 5.
But Premiership Rugby - umbrella organisation for England's 12 Aviva Premiership clubs - do not release non-England players who ply their trade in the Premiership for Tests that fall outside World Rugby's international window.
The Australia game is outside of that official three-weekend slot - Wales also face Argentina, Japan and South Africa next month.
It could be that North and Roberts have full release written into their club contracts for autumn Tests, although Northampton were fined PS60,000 ($A96,180) in 2013 when they released North for an out-of-window Test against Australia..
"We've had no formal conversations with any of the English clubs, but having spoken to the players, they are available to play," Howley said.
"Some of them are available for the Australia game, and we will have to make sure we pick from the availability.
"The players who I have spoken to are the likes of Jamie, George and Toby (Taulupe Faletau).
"Toby is injured, but Jamie and George, as far as we are concerned having spoken to them, are available for the Australia game.
"There has been no formal communication between ourselves and PRL (Premiership Rugby Limited)."
It is unclear whether other Premiership-based players announced by Howley on Tuesday in a 36-man Test squad - lock Luke Charteris, prop Tomas Francis and back-row forward Ross Moriarty - might be available to face Australia.
Wales have lost their past 11 games against Australia, although six of those defeats were by five points or less, as Howley prepares for a testing season opener in a campaign that will see him at the helm while Warren Gatland concentrates on British and Irish Lions business building towards next summer's New Zealand tour.
