Champion Wallabies flanker George Smith remains upbeat about the upcoming spring tour despite admitting he's feeling the pressure to retain his starting spot for the opening Test against New Zealand.
Speculation is growing the two-time John Eales medallist could be a shock omission from the starting side to face the All Blacks in Tokyo on October 31, with David Pocock, who has only started in three of his 11 Tests, to take his place.
Smith ran out with what looked a B side at the Wallabies training camp in Sydney on Tuesday, while he was surprisingly replaced late in his last Test in Wellington even though he was captain at the time.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has downplayed the significance of his training sides, insisting no selection decisions have been made yet, but Smith admitted he couldn't afford to be complacent.
''I guess all spots are up for grabs,'' Smith said.
''I guess you saw the make-up of the teams [on Tuesday] but the team isn't selected until next week so we'll wait until then.''
Deans has made several significant changes to his side in his time as coach and has made it clear that past reputations count for little.
Smith, a veteran of 105 Tests, indicated he was ready to fight for his position and said his spirit would not be broken even if he was dropped for the first game.
''I'm always upbeat, I'm always a happy fellow around camp,'' he said.
''You definitely won't see me moping around if I wasn't selected.''
Among other possible changes being floated are returns for Adam Ashley-Cooper and Digby Ioane, with Ryan Cross tipped to come in in place of the injured Stirling Mortlock.
League-convert Cross would not be drawn on his chances of winning a starting spot.
''Nobody really knows where they stand so it's very good, we're training hard and it's very competitive at training so everyone is on their toes and ready to go,'' Cross said.
''It does [create tension] but that's good, people are fighting for spots.''
Tonight Smith is in the running to win his third John Eales Medal, Australian rugby's highest player of the year accolade. Already this year Smith collected his fourth successive Australian Super 14 player of the year award and his seventh Brett Robinson players' player award at the Brumbies end of season presentation.
Smith is among five finalists for the 2009 John Eales Medal. His rivals this year are Brumbies teammate Ashley-Cooper, two times winner Nathan Sharpe along with Brumbies recruit Matt Giteau and prop Benn Robinson.
Meanwhile, Melbourne will have to wait to learn if it will have a Super15 franchise after governing body SANZAR decided to send the matter to arbitration.
The SANZAR executive committee met in Brisbane yesterday to consider the applications from Melbourne and South Africa's Southern Kings to be the 15th team in an expanded competition from 2011.
However, it said in a statement, it was clear that it could not reach the required unanimous decision with the Australian Rugby Union representatives supporting Melbourne and SA Rugby expressing support for the Southern Kings.
''As a result no vote was taken by the executive committee and it was agreed that the matter should proceed to arbitration in accordance with the SANZAR joint venture agreement,'' the SANZAR statement said. AAP