Australia wait on key man Pocock for World Cup semi-final

Australia gave key No. 8 David Pocock a final chance to prove his fitness on Friday before naming a team for the World Cup semi-final against Argentina.

"He has improved and did a little bit extra this week. We will watch him on the paddock and hope he does a full session later," said coach Michael Cheika explaining a delay in naming his starting XV for Sunday's game.

Pocock injured a calf muscle in Australia's final Pool A win over Wales and missed the quarter-final victory over Scotland.

The two-time champions also have doubts about star fullback Israel Folau who has an ankle injury and prop Scott Sio who hurt an elbow against Scotland.

Cheika insisted his squad are ready for the match against the upstart Pumas despite the doubts.

"Their heads are in a good state," the coach said.

Australia faced controversy when they needed an erroneously given penalty to beat Scotland 35-34 at Twickenham.

Flanker Michael Hooper said: "We've put last Sunday behind us. We are in a World Cup semi-final and we have worked very hard to get here and don't want to ruin all that by being distracted of things in the past."

Hooper added that the team are "looking forward to Argentinian challenge and also guessing what they will bring to the party. Not least what their back row will do in varying their tactics."

Hooper, who formed a strong partnership with Pocock in the early group games, said Australia have gone from strength-to-strength in the 12 months that Cheika has been in charge.

"The last 12 months there have been many matches which have been influential in terms of our development and we have changed.

"Not least of the changes has been that all the players have come in and played a role with ease, like for instance Kurtley Beale."

Beale has been in an out of the side, sometimes for disciplinary reasons, but he has been a powerful replacement for the injured Folau.