Deans must decide if Giteau is still good ou

Poker-faced Wallaby coach Robbie Deans might not have given much indication of the pressure he's under to increase his win percentage, but his team selection today should provide some clues.

The biggest decision facing Deans as he selects his side to play the Springboks at Suncorp stadium is the one involving out-of-sorts star player Matt Giteau.

The Brumbies playmaker has had an indifferent season following an end-of-year tour last year in which he also under-achieved. He missed a crucial kick, which cost the Wallabies the Test against Scotland and he made an equally costly miss to deny them victory against England in Sydney last month.

Though Deans gave Queensland Reds centre Anthony Faingaa an extended run in the team drills last week, the expectation is that Giteau will get the nod at inside centre next to the electrifying Quade Cooper at flyhalf.

If Giteau is selected, he would also have beaten off the challenge of Berrick Barnes, who hasn't exactly covered himself in glory since transferring from the Reds to the Waratahs.

Deans also has to make a call on whether Drew Mitchell or Cameron Shepherd will start on the wing after Peter Hynes and Digby Ioane were ruled out through injury.

Shepherd hasn't played international rugby since he broke a leg against France two years ago, but there must be a huge temptation to unleash him in the starting XV to go head to head with Gio Aplon.

Mitchell seemed to fall out of favour after some poor performances last month and was omitted from the Tri-Nations squad before the injuries to Hynes and Ioane earned him a reprieve.

Though the Wallabies are supposed to name their side today, they have been forced to make last-minute deliberations over whether regular captain Will Genia will feature in the starting line-up.

Genia has recovered from a broken thumb and if he was managed conservatively he would start off the bench but there is huge pressure on the Wallabies to start their Tri-Nations campaign with a win.

After the Brisbane Test they clash twice with the All Blacks before they have to front up twice against the Springboks at altitude.

Though there is clear pressure on both coaches to get a positive result, Deans received much needed support from former Wallaby grand-slam-winning captain Andrew Slack, who suggested that sacking the Kiwi would be "madness".