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Pete Samu of the Crusaders was born in Melbourne and will play for the Brumbies next season.

Pete Samu has not been named in the Wallabies squad for their June series against Ireland, but coach Michael Cheika hopes he still will be.

The Crusaders loose forward was born in Melbourne and has signed to join the Brumbies next year.

However, if he is to play for the Wallabies this year, he has to get clearance from New Zealand Rugby.

After the Wallabies squad was announced on Wednesday night, Cheika said they had been keen to pick Samu, but were unable to "at the moment".

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While he did not refer directly to the New Zealand Rugby situation, he said the door was "definitely" still ajar for Samu.

"There are things that are out of my hands at the moment, but I am hoping they will come into my hands by tomorrow."

He made a point during the team announcement of saying just five loose forwards were being named in the squad.

New Zealand Rugby told Stuff before the announcement there was no update on whether Samu had been given clearance.

On Tuesday, NZR head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum said: "We have received a request from Rugby Australia and we're in discussions, but nothing has been decided yet."

While World Rugby says players must be released for test duty in June, there is a sub-clause that allows countries to deny such requests when the player holds dual eligibility. Samu is also eligible to play for New Zealand.

NZR has given Hurricanes loose forward Brad Shields clearance to represent England in June.

If Samu is not cleared, one of five new caps in the squad, Auckland-born Caleb Timu, has a royal chance of being selected at No 6.

The other new caps are hookers Brandon Paenga-Amosa, who is also Auckland-born,  and Folau Fainga'a, and outside backs Tom Banks and Jack Maddocks.

AT A GLANCE

Wallabies squad:

Props: Sekope Kepu, Tom Robertson, Scott Sio, Taniela Tupou, Allan Alaalatoa

Hookers: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Folau Faingaa, Jordan Uelese

​Locks: Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda, Rob Simmons

Loose forwards: Michael Hooper, David Pocock, Caleb Timu, Lukhan Tui, Ned Hanigan

Backs: Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Tom Banks, Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Tevita Kuridrani, Jack Maddocks Sefa Naivalu, Nick Phipps, Joe Powell, Curtis Rona

 - Stuff