Pat Leafa has set his sights beyond nailing down the Melbourne Rebels hooker's jersey for the upcoming Super Rugby season.
That's Leafa's first priority, but he also has ambitions to wear the Wallabies No.2 after becoming eligible last month.
With Test veterans like Stephen Moore and Saia Fainga'a nearing the end of their careers, Auckland-born Leafa is hoping he will get a chance to represent his adopted country.
"I became eligible two weeks ago so I'll be definitely pushing for selection this year," Leafa, 25, said.
"I had a really big year last year and playing your first full year of Super is pretty tough but I'll take those experiences and start pushing even more."
But he's first focused on the Rebels, who complete their pre-season with a clash with the Highlanders at a suburban Melbourne ground on Thursday night.
Leafa last year shared the starting role with Shota Horie, but the Japanese Test hooker won't return to Melbourne after requiring neck surgery.
Competition will now come from Melbourne-born Irishman Tom Sexton as well as former Western Force rake Ben Whittaker, who the Rebels signed last week.
There was a buzz when former Irish schoolboy captain Sexton arrived late in 2013 but he suffered a serious knee injury and didn't manage a Super Rugby game last season.
"It's a big loss with Shota not returning and there's some big shoes to fill but he's taught me a lot and I'm capable and confident that I can carry out my job," Leafa said.
"Nothing comes easy but I have full confidence in myself that I can earn the starting spot.
"There's some healthy competition going on with a lot of boys pushing for spots and that includes hookers."
The Highlanders will be looking to make it three from three, having already beaten the Crusaders 29-26 in Timaru and the Brumbies 24-19 in Wagga Wagga.
The Rebels won their first pre-season match against Queensland in Cairns 28-13. They open their season against the Crusaders on Friday February 13 in Christchurch.
Meanwhile, history will be made when two gay rugby teams compete as part of a professional sporting event for the first time with the announcement the Melbourne Chargers and Sydney Convicts will play as the curtain-raiser for the Rebels-Waratahs match on Feb 20.
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