Former Wallabies captain James Horwill headlines a surprise group of international Wallabies brought into Michael Cheika’s Test squad for England.

Horwill, who has been playing with Harlequins in the English Premiership was sensationally left out of the World Cup squad last year, but has impressed at his new club.

The long-serving Queensland Reds captain had previously voiced his willingness to remain available to the Wallabies while overseas.

Horwill is one of four players in the squad who has been playing in Europe or the UK, with Bordeaux prop Sekope Kepu, Leroy Houston and Taqele Naiyaravoro.

Houston and Naiyaravoro have both signed Super Rugby deals that will keep them in Queensland and NSW, respectively for the next two seasons.

While four overseas-based players have been named in the squad, there are a handful more who will not be considered for June, but will definitely be in the mix for the Rugby Championship.

Will Genia, Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Drew Mitchell have all flagged a desire to don Wallabies gold again but have been rested or are unavailable through injury.

Horwill is by no means the only surprise inclusion in the squad, to convene on the Sunshine Coast from Sunday ahead of the June 11 Test.

Brumbies’ third-string scrumhalf Joe Powell is the greatest bolter in the squad, with Cheika opting to pick the rookie ahead of much-hyped Rebels captain Nic Stirzaker.

Code-hopper Karmichael Hunt has also earned Cheika’s tick of approval, after his best season of Super Rugby yet for the Queensland Reds, as well as fellow former NRL star Eto Nabuli.

Those are three of the 10 uncapped players in the initial squad, with 23 players retained from last year’s World Cup.

An overflowing roster of backrowers has not stopped Cheika from rewarding luckless Reds flanker Liam Gill by putting him in the squad, despite his looming departure to France.

In the backs, Christian Lealiifano seems earmarked as Kurtley Beale’s replacement, while Rebels fullback Mike Harris is also among the potential playmakers in the team.

Samu Kerevi is another who could possibly cover Beale's spot, earning another opportunity to push his credentials in camp.

Harris can cover plenty of positions across the park, and needed just two games to show Cheika that he could push for a Wallabies spot for the first time since 2013.

Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua and Henry Speight are also in the Wallabies frame but with injury and Speight’s Sevens stint won’t be part of this squad.

Wallabies squad for England Test series

Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Adam Coleman, Scott Fardy, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Nick Frisby, Liam Gill, James Hanson, Mike Harris, Dane Haylett-Petty, Greg Holmes, Michael Hooper, Rob Horne, James Horwill, Leroy Houston, Karmichael Hunt, Sekope Kepu Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon Stephen Moore, Luke Morahan, Dean Mumm, Eto Nabuli, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Wycliff Palu, Nick Phipps, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Joe Powell, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Toby Smith