Brumbies coach Dan McKellar is confident that co-captain Christian Lealiifano will remain at the Super Rugby club next year.
The former Wallabies playmaker has signed to play in Japan once the Brumbies' season comes to an end and is yet to agree a return to Canberra in 2019.
However, McKellar believes Lealiifano will extend his decade-long spell with the Brumbies for at least another year.
The first-year coach says he doesn't feel the need to talk to Lealiifano about where his future lies until after the Brumbies' campaign concludes.
That could be as soon as Saturday night where they'll need to beat the NSW Waratahs with a bonus point and hope everything else falls in place to make the finals.
"I'm quietly confident that he'll (Lealiifano) be in Canberra for at least another year," McKellar said.
"I don't want to go putting any extra pressure on him at the moment around forcing him to make a decision before what's a big game."
Lealiifano revealed last month that he was still weighing up his future in the nation's capital.
But he hinted he could give the Super Rugby competition one last go in an attempt to regain his Wallabies jersey for next year's World Cup.
"It's been a bit of a tough one, trying to decide. I'm getting on a bit now and turning 32 next year," Lealiifano said in June.
"A World Cup year has probably been the biggest drawcard and to see if I can sign back in Australia and have a crack at that.
"It's definitely something I've been having a chat to my family about."
Lealiifano made his Super Rugby debut for the Brumbies in 2008 and has played 19 Tests for the Wallabies.
