Gregan is under pressure after five Australian defeats in a row

Gregan has been criticised after the Wallabies lost their last five matches and finished bottom of the Tri-Nations.

But coach Eddie Jones said: "We looked at George's form as you do with every player's form at the end of the season, but he'll go on tour as captain."

Gregan is part of an initial 45-man training squad for the autumn Tests.

Jones has included nine uncapped players in the group.

Fly-halves Steve Larkham and Elton Flatley and locks Dan Vickerman, Daniel Heenan and Radike Samo are injured.

Jones will select a squad of 30 for the tour, which features matches against France, England, Ireland and Wales, on 10 October.

"We've selected a squad of 45 because there are still a number of players we want to have a look at medically and physically, before finalising a group for the tour," he added.

"The aim of this tour is to win the four Tests but we've got to keep on developing the team.

"What we need is competition for places so when we name the final squad there could be some established players left out.

"Everything we do now is about two things; trying to win every game and developing a programme leading towards the 2007 World Cup."

Australia training squad: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Al Baxter, Alister Campbell, Brendan Cannon, Mark Chisholm, David Croft, Scott Daruda, Matt Dunning, Rocky Elsom, Scott Fava, David Fitter, Adam Freier, Mark Gerrard, Matt Giteau, George Gregan, Nic Henderson, Matt Henjak, Greg Holmes, Leroy Houston, Digby Ioane, Lloyd Johansson, Alex Kanaar, Chris Latham, David Lyons, Lachlan MacKay, Hugh McMeniman, Drew Mitchell, Stephen Moore, Stirling Mortlock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Jeremy Paul, Clyde Rathbone, John Roe, Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor, Nathan Sharpe, Brett Sheehan, Cameron Shepherd, George Smith, Ben Tune, Lote Tuqiri, Morgan Turinui, Phil Waugh, Chris Whitaker, Bill Young.