Hunter Paisami will not play against the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup, for which the Wallabies have unveiled a 34-man squad that includes forward bolter Toby Macpherson.
Paisami on Wednesday night had a four-game ban upheld by a SANZAAR disciplinary committed following a dangerous tackle on Springboks replacement Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in Australia's 42-38 win in Perth on Sunday night.
Paisami was hoping to avoid suspension as he refused the opportunity to dispense with the matter at the first hearing, before, according to the SANZAAR release, he later agreed that an act of foul play had taken place.
"The Committee determined that the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks/matches," the release read.
"In light of Paisami accepting that he committed an act of foul play, as well as mitigating factors such as his recent disciplinary record, conduct, and remorse, the Committee applied a 2 week/match reduction on the sanction.
"Paisami has been suspended from all forms of the game for four weeks."
Paisami will therefore be scratched from Les Kiss' Bledisloe squad that was announced on Wednesday, with Jock Campbell joining the 34-man squad as cover.
Speaking at the one-year-to-go Rugby World Cup event in Sydney on Thursday, Kiss said he was disappointed with the outcome.
"I'll be careful what I say, because I might be fined," he told reporters in Sydney. "Four weeks, I thought it could have been a little bit less than that.
"However, it is what it is, and we'll deal with the reality of it. We've got two Bledisloe games and some other games that we can put that into play. Ultimately, he's out and we'll have to deal with that."
In a quirk of the suspension system, the Wallabies are likely to be able to use the Australia A tour of the United States as some of Paisami's ban, leaving him free to feature from the outset of spring tour.
There was some good news for Kiss though, with the Queenslander retaining Jordan Petaia as midfield cover as centre Len Ikitau tries to overcome an ankle injury to face the All Blacks.
Ikitau hobbled off the Optus Stadium pitch with an ankle injury midway through the second half on Sunday night, having earlier scored two tries in the kind of performance that helped win him the 2025 John Eales Medal.
While a syndesmosis injury was feared for Ikitau, the eventual diagnosis was not as serious and he remains a chance of facing the All Blacks in Auckland on Saturday week.
"To date, we just know that there's a possibility that they can play, a possibility that they can't play," Kiss said of Ikitau and lock Josh Canham. "It's 50-50. Josh is probably the least likely at this stage, but we'll make sure we keep an eye on that.
"Lenny had a scan. There's just bad bruising in the joint. Hopefully that can settle in time, but they can be quite painful."
Macpherson's inclusion meanwhile comes as a huge surprise, with the Brumbies utility forward following in the footsteps of his ACT teammate Lachlan Shaw who made his Test debut earlier this year.
Macpherson has been called into the squad in place of Tom Hooper, who has returned to English club Exeter.
Fellow Brumbies forward, Nick Frost, will offer injury cover for Josh Canham despite the 38-Test veteran's Super Rugby struggles, which have seen him omitted from all other 2026 Wallabies squads to date.
The end of World Rugby's Test window also means Taniela Tupou has returned for France and Parisian club Racing 92, allowing Massimo De Lutiis to rejoin the squad after he was given a rest following the Australia's return from Argentina.
There is a recall for Filipo Daugunu, too, with the Fijian flyer to offer backline cover for both Ikitau and the outside backs.
The other option would be shifting Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii back into the centres from the wing, where the 22-year-old starred against the Springboks.
"Yes, that's one option. I think that's been the value of having Joseph doing so much work in the 13 channel over the last two or three years. That's an option," Kiss said.
"We've also got fairly handy options with Isaac Henry sitting there as well. Filipo [Daugunu], he covers the midfield and covers the wing position as well. We have got some ready-made replacements there for sure."
Kiss boasts an unbeaten record of 4-0-1 from his five Tests in charge so far, but he faces his biggest coaching challenge yet with the Wallabies winless in their last 11 Tests against the All Blacks. Australia have also not beaten New Zealand at Eden Park since 1986.
Wallabies squad for Bledisloe Cup
Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Josh Canham, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Massimo De Lutiis, Isaac Kailea, Toby Macpherson, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Lachlan Shaw, Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson (c).
Backs: Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Jock Campbell, Isaac Henry, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Declan Meredith, Jordan Petaia, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Kalani Thomas, Tom Wright