Eddie Jones has dropped George Kruis and called on reinforcements for England’s crunch match against Australia, with Owen Farrell looking likely to feature and Joe Marler making an immediate return to the matchday squad for Saturday.

Farrell was rested for the 21-8 victory over Argentina last week but is in line to take part against the Wallabies as Alex Lozowski was among the nine players sent back to their clubs on Tuesday night. Marler comes straight back into the fold after his three-week suspension, replacing Ellis Genge, and is certain to play some part against Australia as one of only six front-rowers in the squad. He will compete with Mako Vunipola for a starting spot.

Kruis, meanwhile, appears to have paid the price for a below-par showing against Argentina and as his absence is not injury-enforced, it looks to be evidence of his continued slide down the pecking order. He missed the Six Nations due to a knee injury and while he recovered to take his place on the British & Irish Lions tour, he was dropped after the first Test defeat by New Zealand. Maro Itoje has been named in the 25-man squad and could take Kruis’s place in the starting XV but Jones has also decided to retain Bath’s Charlie Ewels, along with Courtney Lawes and Joe Launchbury, as second-row options.

Lozowski’s omission seems harsh considering he provided one of the few bright spots from the bench against the Pumas with an eye-catching second-half run. His return to Saracens, however, suggests Farrell is set for a place in the matchday 23.

If, as is likely, only one back from the 25 drops out, Mike Brown is the most likely to make way. He is still progressing through the return-to-play protocols following a head injury against Argentina and is unable to train before Jones selects his starting XV. If Brown does sit it out, Anthony Watson is likely to move to full-back, though Elliot Daly is another option, particularly with Jonny May fit again to contest the left-wing berth. Jones could also conceivably use Daly’s versatility for a 6-2 split on his bench, as was the case in the second and third Tests of England’s 3-0 whitewash in Australia last year.

Semesa Rokoduguni is also retained among the back-three options, having scored the decisive second try against Argentina, and has been giving a ringing endorsement by Australia’s Fiji-born wing Marika Koroibete, a potential opponent on Saturday. “I’ve watched a lot of him. He’s an exciting player and is good on the ball. I haven’t met him but he’s a good player,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what jersey you wear, after the game we are mates. We will look after each other after the game and talk – that is just how it is. There are a lot of international Fijian wings around the world and it is good to come up against them and test your potential.”

Koroibete is fast becoming a mainstay of the Wallabies’ side and is yet to taste defeat in his six Tests so far, racking up wins against New Zealand, and last week Wales, along the way. This time last year he was part of the touring party but is now set for his Twickenham debut. “I was a passenger and I was settling in, sitting in the crowd watching the boys, enjoying the atmosphere,” he added.

Koroibete also wished Wales’s Jonathan Davies a speedy recovery as it was his tackle that caused the foot injury which will keep the British & Irish Lions centre sidelined for six months. He said: “It was unlucky. I made my tackle and he landed on his foot – I feel sorry for him and hope he recovers.”

England’s 25-man training squad

Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby); Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Forwards: Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby); Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)

Players released back to their clubs: Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby), Piers Francis (Northampton Saints), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks). Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors) will remain in camp until Wednesday