ACT Brumbies recruit Lachlan McCaffrey says he returns to Perth ''with a higher opinion of myself'', declaring he has nothing to prove against the Western Force despite being cut from the club last year.
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McCaffrey had to step back from a full-time Super Rugby contract to win a $45,000 extended player squad contract with the Brumbies for the 2014 Super Rugby campaign.
The versatile back-rower played seven games for the Force in 2012, but the former Australian under-20s star failed to earn a cap last year before deciding to link with the Brumbies.
But he's unfazed at the prospect of lining up against his old teammates.
''What's happened in the past few years doesn't worry me … I didn't get re-signed over there and I was really thankful Laurie Fisher and [Stephen] Larkham gave me a chance,'' McCaffrey said.
''I don't put my importance [in rugby] on what contract you get or what type of deal you're on.
''It was a step up to come to the Brumbies … In rugby, there are lots of different opinions of you. Luckily here I think I've got a higher opinion of myself than I did [at the Force].''
The Brumbies will play the Force on Saturday night in a match the Super Rugby grand finalists are desperate to win after their round-one loss to Queensland.
The forward pack is set to remain the same, but there could be changes in the back line after Andrew Smith suffered a head knock.
Veteran winger Clyde Rathbone is back training after his season was delayed by gastro and a virus.
Rathbone could earn a spot on the bench or in the starting XV.