The Wallabies have added Queensland hooker James Hanson to their training squad to replace injured skipper Stephen Moore.

Coach Ewen McKenzie pulled a slight surprise by opting for Hanson over Reds teammate Saia Fainga’a, who played during last year’s European tour in November.

Moore has been booked in for a knee reconstruction and will be sidelined for the rest of the year after rupturing anterior cruciate and medial ligaments in the 50-23 first Test win over France in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Hanson, who has one Test cap, is unlikely to travel to Melbourne with the Australian squad on Wednesday for Saturday night’s second Test at Etihad Stadium as McKenzie is taking just 24 players south.

Western Force rake Nathan Charles, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, is now a virtual certainty to make his Test debut off the bench in Melbourne, with Tatafu Polota-Nau to wear the No.2 jersey.

Flanker Michael Hooper is set to be officially appointed as Moore’s replacement as captain on the Gold Coast on Monday.

Hooper led the team for the last 75 minutes at Suncorp Stadium, scoring a try and shining in both attack and defence.

At 22, the NSW Waratahs breakaway becomes the youngest Wallabies skipper in 67 years, following in the footsteps of centre great Trevor Allan in 1947.

Front-rower James Slipper backed Hooper, saying the 2013 John Eales Medallist had the full respect and admiration of the playing group.

“He’s a well-respected player in the team and he’s an up and coming player who’s winning all these accolades for himself,” Slipper said.

“He’s one of those players that players vote as the best player so you want those blokes leading and he’s a lead-by-example-type player.”