But the Wallabies have wrapped Christian Lealiifano✓ in cotton wool and ruled him out of selection contention for the Canberra Vikings as they prepare to recall him for the clash against New Zealand next weekend.

White and Josh Mann-Rea are confirmed starters for the NSW Country Eagles on Saturday against a Vikings side that boasts several of their ACT Brumbies teammates.

White is itching for game time after playing limited minutes from the Wallabies bench for the past six weeks and endorses the NRC as the perfect chance to blow out the cobwebs.

In fact, White is so excited about his NRC debut he will fly to Sydney on Thursday for a training session with the Eagles, despite already travellingalmost 12,000 kilometres since the Wallabies' shock loss to Argentina last weekend.

White is locked in a battle with Nick Phipps and Will Genia for one of the two Wallabies' scrumhalf spots for the Bledisloe Cup and the spring tour of Europe.

"This game for me is to show what I can do and to show [coach Ewen McKenzie] and hopefully earn back a bit of faith for me to come on at the end of games [for the Wallabies] and finish it off," White said.

"Nick Phipps has been doing a good job in the No. 9 jersey ... hopefully I can hold on to my spot and push for a starting spot, show Ewen that I can do the job."

Lealiifano hasn't played a Test this year, but is poised to earn his first cap of the international season to replace Matt Toomua (concussion) against the All Blacks.

The Wallabies returned to Australia on Tuesday night after a horror two-game tour of South Africa and Argentina.

The because of Kurtley Beale's mid-air altercation with a Wallabies staff member. The ARU was expected to begin its investigation on Wednesday

White's focus is simply on getting back to his best on the field after a strong Super Rugby season for the Brumbies and starting the international campaign as the first-choice No. 9 for the Wallabies.

The Wallabies flew from Argentina to Sydney on Tuesday before White and his Brumbies teammates caught a bus back to Canberra later that night.

White trained at Brumbies headquarters on Wednesday, will fly back to Sydney on Thursday for training before returning to the capital for the game.

A fierce competitor, White expects to cop it from his Brumbies teammates and "tight-knit family" at Viking Park on Saturday.

"It's very weird, if there was one game in the NRC I didn't want to play it was this one," White joked.

"It will add a bit of spice to it. I've got no doubt the boys will throw some niggle. We'll have some fun and the NRC is a great competition so I'm looking forward to it.

"But there's one thing I know for sure, I'll be steering clear of [Fotu Auelua] and let the other guys deal with the big wrecking ball."

Hooker Mann-Rea will play for the Eagles less than a week after the 33-year-old journeyman made his debut for Australia.

But while the Eagles add two of the Brumbies' best, the Vikings will be without their Wallabies allocation for the must-win NRC match.

Scott Sio (ankle) and Henry Speight (hamstring) are injured and Sam Carter and Joseph Tomane are being given a week off.

To make things tougher for the Vikings, hooker Lala Lam has been hit with a one-week suspension for a high tackle in the game last week.

"It's a strange situation with Whitey and Bongo [Mann-Rea], Whitey was in my office [on Wednesday]," said Vikings coach Dan McKellar.

"We just need to be on our game. We're well aware of his strengths and we'll have to work hard to nullify his influence."

NATIONAL RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 8

Saturday: Canberra Vikings v NSW Country Eagles at Viking Park, 2.35pm. Tickets available at the gate.