 Charteris tackles New Zealand's Mils Muliaina in Cardiff on Sarturday
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Wales coach Warren Gatland must choose between locks Ian Gough and Luke Charteris for the clash against Australia in Cardiff on Saturday.
Gatland names his team on Tuesday in the wake of lock Ian Evans being ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury.
Charteris replaced Evans in last weekend's 29-9 loss to New Zealand, while Gough is more experienced.
Gareth Cooper is likely to continue at scrum-half.
A scan confirmed that 24-year-old Osprey Evans, capped 16 times, will be sidelined for between six and nine months.
Evans will miss Wales' Six Nations campaign, as well as the Ospreys' Heineken Cup campaign, giving him a slim chance of making the national team's North America tour.
However, it seems unlikely he has any hopes of challenging for a place in the Lions tour party to South Africa next summer.
Wales team manager Alan Phillips confirmed the severity of Evans' injury.
"There is cruciate damage and we are looking at an operation in the next couple of weeks, and then between six and nine months (out) after that," said Phillips.
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"It is quite a blow for us. He was starting to play well, so it is very disappointing for him."
Evans was injured in the build-up to Ma'a Nonu's decisive try in the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
The Wales forward limped off in the second half as All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter lined up the conversion, Evans being replaced by Dragons forward Luke Charteris.
Evans was immediately rushed to hospital for a scan on his knee problem.
The South Africa-born forward was sidelined for almost 10 months with a shoulder injury in December 2006 and a second long-term injury is a huge setback for the player.
Wales coach Warren Gatland will name his side to face Australia at 1300 GMT on Tuesday.
The Ospreys' next Heineken Cup pool clash is against Treviso on 6 December.
Fellow Wales stars Gavin Henson, Mike Phillips, Jonathan Thomas, Huw Bennett and Duncan Jones are also doubtful for that clash with the Italians.
Wales squad:
Backs: M Stoddart (Scarlets), L Byrne (Ospreys), L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), M Jones (Scarlets), S Williams (Ospreys), T James (Cardiff Blues), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), A Bishop (Ospreys), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), D Biggar (Ospreys), J Hook (Ospreys), S Jones (Scarlets), M Roberts (Scarlets), G Cooper (Gloucester).
Forwards: G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), J Yapp (Cardiff Blues), Adam Jones (Ospreys), E Lewis-Roberts (Sale Sharks), R Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), M Rees (Scarlets), R Hibbard (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), I Gough (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), A Powell (Cardiff Blues), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Sowden-Taylor (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt).
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