But the ACT Brumbies prop has a burning desire to stay with the Canberra club beyond the end of the year as he weighs up his future.

The ACT Brumbies remain confident they can re-sign Alexander, despite the prop being one of only two current Wallabies set to benefit from new selection rules.

The ARU introduced its new protocols last week, allowing players with 60 Tests or more and seven years of service to play abroad and still be available for Wallabies selection.

It has thrust former Brumbies captain Matt Giteau into shock World Cup contention while also muddying the waters of Alexander's contract negotiations.

It's understood the 30-year-old is close to a new deal to stay with the Brumbies and ARU instead of joining a post-World Cup Australian exodus.

"I think it's a really smart decision [by the ARU]. It makes more players available for Australia and can reward senior players even if they choose to go overseas," Alexander said.

"I only learnt about it last week, so it's something to consider. I didn't know it was in the pipeworks.

"You have to look at it. I want to keep playing for my country but I want to keep playing for [the Brumbies] as well. It's just something to consider but I haven't really thought about it."

Giteau stands to benefit immediately from the ARU's rule change, with the 92-Test star set to revive his Wallabies career four years after his last Test.

Alexander and Brumbies teammate Stephen Moore are the only two current Super Rugby players who fit the criteria, with others including Adam Ashley-Cooper, Will Genia, James Horwill and Quade Cooper expected to join them by the end of the year.

Alexander, who will return to the Brumbies' starting side this week, has played 72 Tests for Australia and 109 games for the Brumbies since making his debut in 2008.

With several tighthead props leaving Australian rugby at the end of the year, including Sekope Kepu and Paul Alo-Emile, Alexander is set to become a valuable commodity.

However, Alexander says his only focus is on chasing a breakthrough Super Rugby title and toppling the NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.

The Brumbies got their season back on track with a 31-18 win against the Otago Highlanders last week to end a mid-season form slump.

But their biggest test will be against arch rivals the Waratahs as the teams fight for Australian conference supremacy.

There are plenty of sub-plots between the teams with Wallabies battles in almost every position and any lingering feeling from the Jacques Potgieter homophobic slur from the last contest will rise to the surface.

"That Potgieter stuff is dead and buried. This is going to be a tough match. Anyone who remembers our game against them in Canberra last year was our best game," Alexander said.

"It was an enjoyable game to be involved in and I think both sides will throw the kitchen sink into to have a massive crack.

"Everyone will be too tired to be niggling. A lot of us are good friends; it will be played in the right spirits and anything else that has happened is in the past.

"We want people to come and watch entertaining rugby between two good sides. The last games, they've been really good games. All the peripheral stuff doesn't make a difference, we just want people to come and watch two sides who have aspirations of winning the title."

The Brumbies were outmuscled and physically beaten in their last clash against the Waratahs six weeks ago.

"We just have to worry about what we've got to do," Alexander said. "Whether that's a physical contest or something else ... not get caught up in anything but focus on what we do."

SUPER RUGBY ROUND 12

Friday: ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium, 7.40pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 2. Tickets available from Ticketek.