Wallabies backs coach Stephen Larkham says Henry Speight's suspension will "give other guys an opportunity", but he's confident the ACT Brumbies winger can still have an impact at this year's World Cup.
Larkham was unsure whether Wallabies coach Michael Cheika would name Speight in the squad for the Rugby Championship on Thursday, but he said the Fijian flyer's Super Rugby form warranted selection.
Speight is serving a five-week ban for a lifting tackle, after a SANZAR appeals committee rejected his appeal, and he'll miss the Wallabies' first two Tests of the Rugby Championship - against South Africa and Argentina.
The Wallabies then play two Bledisloe Cup Tests against New Zealand after that, before playing the US in Chicago as their final game before the World Cup in England and Wales.
Cheika's squad goes into camp on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, two weeks before they play the Springboks, and the likes of Joe Tomane, Rob Horne, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nick Cummins will have first crack at booking a spot on the wing.
"Henry would definitely be in the squad if it wasn't for this, so I'm not sure whether he will travel up into camp for the first couple of weeks or whether he stays at home, but we'll make that decision tomorrow," Larkham said on Wednesday.
"I think just based on his form he'll get back into the team as soon as possible.
"It gives the other guys an opportunity, but with anyone like that you've got to look at their form up until they're out of contention.
"He's going to have to work hard, train hard, but I think everyone's got confidence if he gets on the field he can play the way we want him to play."
Speight's international career has been seemingly cursed with one incident after the other preventing him from representing his adopted country.
First World Rugby delayed his eligibility date due to a short spell playing in the ITM Cup in New Zealand, which put back his Wallabies debut by a year.
Then when he was finally allowed to pull on the gold jersey, a hamstring injury suffered in last year's Super Rugby finals series put back his debut even further.
He played two Tests on last year's European spring tour, against Ireland and England.
Now suspension has ruled him out. But Larkham was confident Speight's form would see him add to his international caps, including at the World Cup.
Speight has been one of the most prolific try-scorers for Aussie Super Rugby teams over the past three seasons, plus his work at the breakdown sets him apart from most wingers.
"I think he's been the form Super winger, well we've got two of them really, Joe Tomane and himself, have been the form ones this year," Larkham said.
"There's a lot of confidence in Henry to be an excellent winger at the World Cup."
Larkham said Speight had shown he has the ability to bounce back from setbacks in the past and he was expecting him to do so from the suspension.
"We were obviously very disappointed. We wouldn't have appealed if we didn't think there was a reason to. I guess they saw it differently," he said.
"[Speight] was very disappointed like we all were, but he's got good motivation. He'll be doing everything he can to make sure he's right to play and available."
Brumbies backs Matt Toomua, Christian Lealiifano, Tevita Kuridrani and Tomane would all appear to be automatic inclusions in the squad announced on Thursday, while Larkham expected scrumhalf Nic White to also be part of the initial squad.
