Wallabies front row stalwart Sekope Kepu predicts up to eight nations can have a decent crack at this year's World Cup.
The 33-year-old prop is striving to play at a third World Cup, having been part of the Wallabies 2011 squad and the 2015 team which lost the final to New Zealand.
There's still a full Super Rugby season and a truncated Rugby Championship before the World Cup starts in just over seven months and although the Waratahs his focus, Kepu has also been keeping an eye on the Six Nations.
Unbeaten Wales and England are the early frontrunners after two rounds and Kepu includes both among his World Cup contenders alongside New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Scotland and Argentina.
"Sometimes when you are babysitting on the weekends, you sort of have a nosey at what's going on (in the Six Nations)," Kepu said.
"You try and stay away and switch off a bit, but I'm passionate about keeping an eye on how Ireland and England and all those teams are going.
"They are playing some fantastic rugby up there, it's going to be a really tough World Cup.
"There's probably eight teams that can really give it a shake this year."
Kepu, who has accumulated more than 100 caps for Australia and NSW since breaking into both sides in his first season of senior rugby in 2008, was looking forward to adding a second Super Rugby title to his record.
That quest begins when he butts heads with the Hurricanes pack in Saturday's opening round clash at Sydney's Brookvale Oval.
Kepu comes in fresh not having played a trial game and in better shape than the same stage last year when calf and hamstring injuries kept him out of the Tahs first four games.
"It's a little bit harder to get the engine going in the morning and it takes a little bit longer to get back into that intensity and find that fitness level," the veteran said.
"But I've really thoroughly enjoyed the pre-season, and look forward to the season kicking off."
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