Smith follows his heart back home

While the 32-year-old wants to help the Brumbies win a championship after his shock return to Canberra, Smith says it's an opportunity to test himself in Super Rugby before he retires.

Smith trained with the Brumbies for the first time on Friday after signing a 12-week deal to fill the final spot on the roster.

It was coincidence that Deans was in the capital for a coaching seminar hosted by the Brumbies.

But with Eddie Jones and George Gregan backing Smith to play a big role for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions in June, the champion openside flanker said his focus was the Brumbies, not a Test recall.

''I'm not going to lie to you, [a chance to play for the Wallabies again] is enticing. But I think it's premature to be thinking about that, especially for myself,'' he said.

The 110-Test veteran revealed:

■ He wants to make his comeback in the Brumbies' match against the NSW Waratahs next Saturday, but ''I have to earn my spot'';

■ Despite claiming every award in Australian rugby, he's returning to Super Rugby to test himself;

■ It's unlikely he would consider another opportunity to play Super Rugby again in the future;

■ Smith doesn't want to be a passenger at the Brumbies and says he's now the challenger for the No.7 jersey, and;

■ He would have considered playing for another Australian franchise for a ''millisecond'', but couldn't play against the Brumbies because he regards the club as ''family''.

Smith will almost certainly play against the Waratahs at Canberra Stadium in his first Super game since the end of the 2010 season.

His last game is likely to be when the Brumbies host the Hurricanes on May 31 before he returns to Japan to rejoins Suntory.

Smith has won every rugby award plus two Super titles, Bledisloe Cups, a British and Irish Lions series and Tri Nations.

So after three years away from Australia, why return?

''I did leave a good legacy that I was proud of [when I retired in 2010, so] I'm putting it all on the line now for myself,'' Smith said. ''I don't want to come back and be a passenger. I haven't been in the challenger's role for a long time and I'm definitely the challenger coming into this team. I'm relishing it and I think I'll rise to that challenge.''

Former Wallabies mentor Jones and teammate Gregan led the calls for Smith to be considered for the Wallabies series against the Lions.

Given his deal with the Brumbies expires before the Lions series begins, there would need to be negotiations about Smith's eligibility. With David Pocock at the peak of his powers and Michael Hooper and Liam Gill showing they can handle Test rugby, the Wallabies' openside flanker depth is impressive. But if Smith started playing well, it would have be hard for Deans to resist a call to the Wallabies great.

''My focus is on the Brumbies, I've been released to play for the Brumbies … ,'' Smith said.

''I'm not going to lie to you, [a chance to play for the Wallabies again] is enticing. But I think it's premature to be thinking about that, especially for myself.

''I've got to perform for the Brumbies first to even be thinking about that. I'll focus for the Brumbies and hopefully bring a title back here.

''I'll see how I perform in a few weeks' time and maybe then you can ask me [about Wallabies].''

Smith returns to Canberra to fill the last spot on the roster after injury ruled Ita Vaea out for the rest of the season. He said he was lost at times during his first session, ran the wrong lines and was trying to learn the new calls.

But coach Jake White is confident that will not derail any plans to have him ready to take on the Waratahs.

Smith can play anywhere in the back row and will fit into a rotation with Pocock, Ben Mowen, Peter Kimlin, Fotu Auelua and Colby Faingaa. White hinted Pocock and Smith could rotate between who's in the starting XV and the other on the bench. He also said they could both be in the starting side. ''It's going to be fantastic for us to have George, it's exactly where we want to be at this time of the year,'' White said. ''George will be pushing hard and that's exactly what I want, everyone pushing for their places [in the team] because it creates competition and with that comes success.''

Pocock grew up with a poster of Smith on his bedroom wall and usurped his idol as the Wallabies' No.1 flanker before Smith left Australia. They're similar, but different. The Brumbies have expressed their desire to make Pocock even better than he already is by adding an attacking dimension to his game.

Smith is sublime in attack for a forward and the Brumbies believe the duo can form one of the most feared combinations in world rugby. ''I think we can complement each other in a lot of things on the field,'' Smith said.

''I've played and trained alongside him in the past … It's about working the combinations and seeing what's best for the side.

''It would be pretty hard to argue with saying he is the premier openside flanker in world rugby at the moment. You can see how he inspires players.''

Smith said the Brumbies were ''family'', and launched his career. He will return to Japan next season but … ''after this season with Super Rugby I think it will be done,'' he said. ''But who knows.''