LONDON: A World Cup try-scoring record is within reach, but Drew Mitchell is more focused on a fight to keep his spot in the team with Rob Horne making a remarkable recovery from injury.
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Mitchell will start on the wing for the second week in a row when the Wallabies play Scotland in a quarter-final at Twickenham on Sunday (Monday morning AEDT).
He is Australia's most prolific World Cup try-scorer and is within striking distance of the tournament record held by All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu and South African speedster Bryan Habana.
But Mitchell is driven by an opportunity he never thought he'd get again and now he faces a challenge from Horne just to stay in the starting team.
The Wallabies feared Horne's World Cup was over when he injured his shoulder two weeks ago, suffering a partial dislocation when scrambling in defence in the win against England.
However, he returned to training this week and the Wallabies coaches believe he can be a valuable weapon if they progress into the semi-finals.
Mitchell has scored 12 World Cup tries, just three shy of the benchmark set by Lomu and Habana.
Asked if he felt he could join them, Mitchell said: "To be honest, I think that's a little bit out of reach.
"Bryan has kicked on and is up equal with [Lomu]. That's one of those things I suppose, if you achieve it, it will be something to look back on after it's all said and done.
"But if the opportunity comes [to score], regardless of any records or anything, I want to take it. One of the jobs as a winger is to be a finisher.
"If at the end of the day you get a record because of it, then great. I will rub it into my kids when I have one, one day, but it's certainly not motivation going out there."
Mitchell has kept his place on the wing for the quarter-final as coach Michael Cheika keeps the same squad together for continuity.
Israel Folau is on track to play despite nursing an ankle injury, but David Pocock is struggling to overcome his calf problem and Ben McCalman is poised to step in if required.
Horne is waiting in the wings for an opportunity and will come into contention if the Wallabies manage to keep their tournament alive.
But for now Mitchell is stepping in and says the Wallabies need to rise to a new level against Scotland.
The Wallabies beat Wales 15-6 in a tense pool match last weekend, surviving an attacking onslaught and displaying courageous defence.
"Yeah I think [we'll need another big defensive effort]. Each game we have played in this tournament, we have had to lift each time," Mitchell said.
"Sure circumstances may have been a little bit different [against Wales] to what we were expecting in terms of the numerical situation we found ourselves in.
"But we had to call upon that belief we have in each other, and that collective belief as well, to make sure we got ourselves out of that situation."
WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL
Wallabies v Scotland at Twickenham, Sunday 4pm (Monday 2am AEDT)
