A bizarre rugby league twist is set to open the door for Terry Campese to enjoy a hometown farewell at Canberra Stadium three years after his NRL career ended abruptly and almost 10 years after his only Australian Test cap.
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The former Canberra Raiders skipper is leading Italy's World Cup qualification charge with the Azzurri chasing a berth at the tournament in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
It comes after Campese's 2008 World Cup campaign for Australia lasted just 16 minutes before an eye injury forced him out of the rest of the tournament.
Campese is moving back to the capital to start a coaching job with his junior club, the Queanbeyan Blues, after hanging up his professional boots following a stint with Hull KR.
But if Italy seals the No.3 European spot, it will set Campese up for a Canberra Stadium comeback against Fiji on November 10 next year.
Retired Raiders great Alan Tongue launched the rugby league World Cup's one-year-to-go campaign on Wednesday as the countdown to the tournament heats up.
Tongue expects the World Cup popularity in Canberra to ride the wave of the Raiders' success after the club's best season in 21 years.
A host of Raiders are set to play a major role, with Josh Hodgson and Elliott Whitehead part of England's set up, Jordan Rapana playing for New Zealand, Junior Paulo for Samoa and Shannon Boyd and Josh Papalii for Australia.
But it's the potential return of an old face in Campese that Tongue is looking forward to.
"We all know Campo's story and the injuries that meant we didn't get to see the longevity in his career," Tongue said.
"It would be so good to see him get that farewell game he didn't get a few years ago. It would be a great story, and he's already giving back to Queanbeyan."
Italy will play Wales this weekend with the two sides, as well as Ireland and Russia, battling for three qualification spots.
Canberra will host three games at the tournament with tickets to all of those matches to go on sale on Thursday to mark one year from the start of the event.
France and Lebanon will play the first match in Canberra on October 29 before Australia v France on November 3 and Fiji v a European qualifier on November 10.
The World Cup could double as an international farewell for some of Australia's greatest, including Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith.
But rising Canberra players including Joey Leilua and Jarrod Croker will be trying to force their way in for their first World Cup experience.
Leilua was left out of Australia's Four Nations team after injuring his hamstring while Croker was overlooked for selection despite being the NRL's highest point-scorer.
"[Leilua] has to be there, doesn't he? I think there will be a lot of eyes on this Four Nations tournament [starting on Saturday], but there are a number of players," Tongue said.
"Crokes can't be too far away and Blake Austin has been spoken about as well ... there will be a number of Raiders involved regardless of what team they're playing for."
Boyd has been named on the bench for the Kangaroos' Four Nations opener against Scotland on Saturday morning (AEDT).
Boyd is only the sixth Raiders to earn an Australian call up in the past 16 years while Papalii was ruled out of the Four Nations tour because of an ankle injury.
RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP
Canberra games next year: France v Lebanon on October 29, Australia v France on November 3 and Fiji v European qualifier No. 3 on November 10. Tickets go on sale on Thursday.
