Even after a broken neck, a torn hamstring and a busted knee, which have restricted him to less than 300 minutes of game time this season, McCabe insists he ''feels lucky''.

He will return to the Brumbies' starting team for the clash with the Rebels at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.

It is the last chance for players to impress before Wallabies coach Robbie Deans decides on who fills the final six places in his squad for the Lions series.

McCabe was all but certain to be part of the initial 25-man group last month, before injury struck again - this time his knee.

But he is ''bouncing off the walls'' with excitement as the Brumbies close in on a finals berth. ''Frustrating is the best way to sum up this year, I've never experienced a season like this,'' he said.

''[The Lions] are pretty far at the back of the mind, for me I just want to perform well and staying injury-free for a while would be nice. Worrying about the Lions won't do me any good.

''Personally I just want to make a contribution [to the Brumbies]. I thought I had my bad luck for the year, but that wasn't to be.

''I don't complain too much, I still know I've got it pretty good. I've had moments when I've been down and extremely frustrated … but I still feel pretty lucky.''

Even in the games McCabe has played, Christian Lealiifano's form has kept the incumbent Wallabies inside-centre on the bench in his six matches this year.

Lealiifano's superb play has him on the cusp of earning his first Wallabies cap, but he will probably battle for that spot with McCabe if both make the Lions squad.

The spin-off to a disaster run of injuries is that McCabe feels fresh. ''I guess that's a bonus, some guys are getting pretty tired, but I'm just bouncing off the walls to get a game,'' he said.