Toutai Kefu, Wallaby pack leader, was named joint vice-captain alongside Matt Burke for the Wallabies' four-match overseas tour today.
The Wallabies leave Australia on Friday on a four-Test tour to Argentina, Ireland, England and Italy.
"They've just upgraded me but I think the job description's still the same," Kefu said on today.
Kefu discounted talk that the position was a possible pointer to the captaincy, should George Gregan quit Australian rugby after next year's World Cup.
"A lot of people have mentioned that to me, I've never really thought about it, it doesn't really bother me," he said, "at this stage after the World Cup I'll probably be moving on."
Kefu last year knocked back a big offer to quit Australian rugby and play in Japan for three years, and is likely to finish his playing career there.
He said the lure of the Australian captaincy wasn't enough to convince him to stay.
"If I do stay it won't be for the captaincy," the 49-Test veteran said.
"I think there are a lot of people more qualified than I am and probably the role suits them more.
Meanwhile fullback Chris Latham was ruled out of the tour with an ankle injury after incurring ligament damage while playing with his daughter in Brisbane last week.
NSW winger Scott Staniforth was brought into the touring party for the second successive year, after he was a late call-up for Andrew Walker last year.
Staniforth said he put off scheduled knee surgery in case such an opportunity arose.
Wallaby utility Mat Rogers is set to be handed the fullback spot in Latham's absence, a position he filled with flair for the Waratahs.