The Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) has reportedly backflipped on a decision to stand down captain Pablo Matera, as well as teammates Guido Petti and Santiago Socino over a series of "'discriminatory and xenophobic' tweets.
Argentina media outlets have reportedly hinted at potential threats of a strike from players within the squad which has forced UAR to back down from its original decision to suspend the three players for their final Test of 2020.
That means Matera, Petti and Sacino could well be named to face Australia in the final leg of the Tri-nations on Saturday evening when UAR officially announce their squad later today.
La Nación, a newspaper in Argentina, reports the UAR has "backed down and lifted the penalties" and that the trio are "fit to play for the Pumas on Saturday against Australia".
Questioned over the early reports of Argentina's backflip, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie revealed his camp were preparing for the likely scenario.
"We've prepared as if the guys mentioned are going to be playing.," he told reporters.
"We've got no control over that but we've prepared as if they'll have their best team out there.
"I'm not aware of that (ban backflip) but we thought we'd always wait until we saw the team. There's a lot of speculation in the media.
"They rested a lot of their top backline last week so I expect a lot of those boys to be back in. We'll wait and see."
The initial bans related to a series of "xenophobic" tweets that were unearthed on social media late last week.
One comment, made 2012, referred to South Africa as a "country full of blacks" that Matera was glad to depart.
Comments were also reportedly made about Bolivian and Paraguayan domestic workers.
Matera was also suspended until further notice, along with fellow Pumas players Guido Pettit and Santiago Socino.
They now appear to be back in the frame for Saturday's Test.
Rennie made two changes to his starting team as well as shifting Reece Hodge from five-eighth to fullback.
MORE TO COME.
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