Brumbies captain Christian Lealiifano is not ready to close the door on his international career, declaring a World Cup berth is in the back of his mind.
The 31-year-old playmaker enters his 12th Super Rugby season with a focus on returning the ACT franchise to the finals.
Lealiifano toyed with the idea of leaving the nation's capital at the end of last season, but signed a one-year deal to remain with the Brumbies as the lure of reclaiming his Australian jersey and adding to his 19 Test caps still burns.
The Wallabies will be looking to go one better at this year's World Cup in Japan than they did four years, going down to New Zealand in the final.
"It's in the back of your mind because of the year it is," Lealiifano told AAP.
"I'm aware I haven't been in the set-up for a while (since 2016) so my focus has got to be playing well and consistent for the Brumbies.
"If I can do that well enough then maybe you can enter into those conversations."
It has been a long road back for Lealiifano, who battled leukaemia after being diagnosed in 2016, before making a courageous comeback to the Brumbies in the 2017 quarter-final.
He was rested from two games last year in his full season back from illness, but still proved to be a stand out for the Brumbies.
Following the end of the 2018 Super Rugby season, Lealiifano then headed to play in the Japanese Top League with the Toyota Industries Shuttles.
"I'm feeling as good as I can feel," Lealiifano told AAP.
"I'm really fit and healthy and I'm excited to see what I can contribute to this year."
