But Toomua fears the Australian Super Rugby salary cap could complicate the Brumbies' hopes of retaining the same squad, as a host of stars start the search for new deals.

New coach Stephen Larkham will begin negotiations in the coming weeks with players who are off contract at the end of the 2014 season.

The process will hit a hurdle when chief executive Andrew Fagan finishes his tenure in December, leaving the club without a full-time replacement until February. Wallabies Toomua, Christian Lealiifano, Scott Fardy, Scott Sio and Jesse Mogg are off contract at the end of 2014.

Winger Henry Speight, No.8 Fotu Auelua and veteran Clyde Rathbone will also be looking for new contracts.

Fardy, Sio and Mogg were unknowns two years ago and signed $40,000 Australian Rugby Union-funded contracts for the 2012 season.

But all have now played for the Wallabies and have earned higher salaries.

''My preference is to stay in Canberra,'' Toomua said.

''That's what I'd like to work towards and that hasn't changed.

''I think we'd all want to stay, but with the salary cap it complicates things. Is it possible to stay together? I don't know.

''It definitely complicates things … Hopefully most guys want to stay. But the value of players is a bit of an unknown. We'll see how it pans out.''

Larkham will continue player negotiations while the Brumbies board searches for a new chief executive. The board met on Wednesday to start the process to replace Fagan. Club champion Joe Roff has already pulled out of contention.

Up to 10 Brumbies are off contract, and the club is unlikely to have a new chief executive until closer to the season opener on February 22.

Toomua made his Wallabies debut this year following the best Super Rugby campaign of his career.

''I won't be shopping around if I know I want to be here,'' Toomua said.

''It doesn't bother me when it happens. It's just a matter of getting it sorted and getting the little details right.

''If it's in round 10 or if it's in two weeks … I'm not big on shopping around. You never know. If the Brumbies are happy and I'm happy … it's just a matter of getting it right.''

Toomua's breakout year was cut short by a hamstring injury on the Wallabies' spring tour of Europe.

The 23-year-old established himself in the Test starting XV, but he missed the last two games of the tour after suffering a grade-one hamstring tear.

The fly-half hopes to return to running next week. Toomua helped the Brumbies into the Super Rugby grand final in 2013 and he hopes he can continue his rise to earn a Wallabies berth at the World Cup in 2015.

''This time last year I was injured and had a fair few doubts about how I'd go,'' Toomua said.

''The World Cup is the pinnacle of our sport. That's something I'd love to be a part of and aim for.''