The Brumbies and the ARU will start ramping up talks with the Wallabies great as he weighs up whether to commit to one or continue juggling a Super Rugby head coaching job with a Test assistant's role.

Larkham declared his passion for Canberra and the Brumbies having spent 20 years at the club, and is intent on lifting them back to Super Rugby glory.

But the ARU is pushing for full-time Wallabies assistants to support coach Michael Cheika to ensure Australia doesn't slip down the world rankings.

Larkham's Brumbies contract expires at the end of the year and he has been working with both parties in a three-way negotiation.

However, his future took a back seat in the run to the Super Rugby finals and while he tried to finalise player contracts for the 2017 Brumbies squad.

The Brumbies were beaten by the Otago Highlanders 15-9 on Friday night in a controversial and heartbreaking end to the Super Rugby campaign.

"I'm passionate about Canberra and about the Brumbies and I really want to see the organisation succeed," Larkham said.

"With the campaign and the timing of everything, I've been concentrating on the players and the team.

"I've got time to reflect on things now and make a decision over the next week or so. We're some way along in terms of negotiations, but they've slowed down because of the finals over recent weeks.

"It's a three-way negotiation happening at the moment. I'm passionate about both and that's the hardest thing. We're a bit further along with negotiations."

Doing both roles has taken up all of Larkham's time and limited his ability to step away from day-to-day operations to refresh.

When the Super Rugby season went on a four-week break in June for the international season, Larkham joined the Wallabies for the entire month before returning to Canberra less than a week before the Brumbies resumed their campaign.

The Queensland Reds and the Western Force are finalising their respective searches for new head coaches.

The Brumbies would need to start a search for a new coach immediately if Larkham were to leave the club to focus on international duties.

The champion playmaker, who won two Super Rugby titles and the World Cup in 1999, is regarded by many as the next Wallabies head coach when Cheika's contract expires.

But how he uses his time in the build-up will be determined by negotiations over the coming days.

Brumbies chairman Robert Kennedy is leading negotiations with Larkham and the ARU is also working closely with the club to get a favourable outcome.

One option looms as a reduced role with the Wallabies where Larkham could become more of a consultant than a full-time assistant. That would allow him to continue with the Brumbies and not commit him to intense overseas trips with the Wallabies.

Larkham has built the Brumbies' Super Rugby squad for the 2017 campaign, recruiting several players for the next 12 months.

He put contract negotiations with players like David Pocock, Joseph Tomane and Ben Alexander ahead of his own future to ensure the Brumbies had a solid base.

Pocock will take a 12-month sabbatical next year before returning to the Brumbies in 2018-19 while Stephen Moore (Queensland), Matt Toomua (Leicester) and Tomane (Montpellier) are all leaving.

The Brumbies are close to finalising a deal to bring Kyle Godwin to Canberra, but the contract is in the hands of the ARU and awaiting approval on final details.

"A lot of guys had cracker years there and I think we've built depth to be able to cope with a lot of guys who are leaving," Larkham said.

"If you look at our 35 contracted players, we're turning over seven players and that's it. That's not bad considering in previous years that has been up to 11 or 12.

"I'm looking to decide sooner rather than later, I'll reflect on where we need to go and then make a decision then. It's very hard to go one way and disappoint people."

BRUMBIES CHANGES

Departing: Stephen Moore (Queensland), David Pocock (sabbatical), Matt Toomua (Leicester), Joseph Tomane (Montpellier), Michael Wells (NSW Waratahs), Michael Dowsett (TBA), Ita Vaea (retired), Albert Anae (Japan).

Incoming: Saia Faingaa (Queensland), Chris Alcock (Western Force), Lolo Fakaosilea (Queensland), Jordan Jackson-Hope (Canberra), Ben Hyne (Tuggeranong), Ryan Lonergan (Tuggeranong), Robert Valetini (Melbourne).

On the radar: Kyle Godwin (Western Force), Anthony Faingaa (Queensland).