Wallabies reject James Hanson said he’s still hopeful of playing at the Rugby World Cup, despite being left out of Michael Cheika’s initial 31-man playing squad.

Hanson, Sam Carter and Taqele Naiyaravoro all joined Wallabies camp in the US this week ahead of Saturday’s Test against the Eagles and are part of a wider shadow squad that will remain on standby before and during the World Cup.

“His (Cheika’s) big message was to be ready. I don’t wish injury upon anyone but if it does happen then I’ve got to be ready to slot straight in there,” Hanson said after training at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

The Melbourne Rebels recruit was part of the shadow squad for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand and said he was bitterly disappointed to miss out on selection again.

“It was an aim of mine from the beginning of the year and I haven’t given up on it, I’m still working really hard so that if an opportunity does arise, I’m ready,” he said.

“From my perspective, I’ve got to make sure my preparation is on point and I’m ready to go.”

Hanson played the opening two matches of the National Rugby Championships with the Sydney Stars, before joining the Wallabies earlier this week.

“Sam Carter and myself got a later flight on the Sunday, which was delayed a bit so we missed a few connections and got in at 4:30am Monday morning and were training by 8am.”

“We were straight into it, but it was a good way to cure the jetlag.”

He admitted Australia’s third tier competition was the perfect preparation for his Wallaby call up.

“My last game before the NRC was in Super Rugby so it was important for me to get some game time under my belt.”

Lock Kane Douglas was another desperate for match fitness ahead of the World Cup and played from the bench in the second Bledisloe.

“It was pretty exciting to get on against the All Blacks. I was probably sucking on some seagulls, it was pretty tough but I just wanted to do everything I could right, not make any mistakes and try and hit everything at 100 miles an hour,” he said.

The Reds recruit hadn’t played since April after injuring his back playing for Irish side Leinster and admitted he still had some work to do in the US in an effort to return to his best shape.

“The session yesterday afternoon was really tough in the heat. It’s like a soup kitchen here. “