An injury to influential utility back Pat McCabe has dented Australia's chances at the upcoming Rugby Championship.

The in-form Brumbies player has suffered a stress fracture to his lower leg which will keep him out for up to six weeks.

The injury means that McCabe will miss at least the first month of Australia's Rugby Championship campaign but McCabe insists the squad will cope without him.

Referring to the opening Tests against the All Blacks, McCabe said: "It would have been a huge challenge and one I was definitely looking forward to, but I think we've got a number of guys who can fill that spot extremely well and they'll do really well."

Fellow Wallabies Adam Ashley-Cooper and Ben Tapuai are expected to cover the inside-centre role usually occupied by McCabe.