This is the year that can launch their aspirations of becoming the best team in the world, or it can crush their dreams and send them back to the starting line.

Either way, Pat McCabe says there is no room for excuses as the Wallabies take on the British and Irish Lions and Robbie Deans tries to prove he can lead Australia to the 2015 World Cup.

The Lions will tour Australia for the first time in 12 years – and play the ACT Brumbies on June 18.

It's a chance to send a statement to world rugby that the Wallabies can still be one of the most dangerous teams in the world.

Deans is off contract at the end of the year and a disastrous international campaign would put his job in jeopardy as the ARU looks towards the World Cup.

But after injury ravaged the squad last year and it still managed three wins from four games on the European spring tour, McCabe has high hopes.

And there's no better way to measure themselves than taking on an all-star group of Lions.

"You can't win the World Cup by winning games this year or next year, but you can certainly put yourself in a good position and gain that confidence," McCabe said.

"It's a huge occasion with the Lions coming out. A lot of great Wallabies players never get to play against them. Pressure is part of the territory. But people expect the Wallabies to be consistent and that's something we haven't been over the last few years.

"It's something the team desperately wants to achieve. I don't think anything other than winning the series will be acceptable to the public and it won't be acceptable to the team.

"That's the focus, and then we also want to win back the Bledisloe Cup against New Zealand this year."

The Wallabies used more than 40 players in their Test matches last year.

Despite the injury toll, they still managed to be competitive, but Deans needs results this year to show the ARU he is the man to lead the Wallabies to World Cup supremacy.

Deans is so keen for results he has asked the Australian Super Rugby coaches to release their Wallabies players early to prepare for the Lions tour.

But that could jeopardise the Super Rugby teams' hopes of making the finals and there could be a standoff in the middle of the season.

The Brumbies started last season with just three established Wallabies on their roster – McCabe, Ben Alexander and Stephen Moore.

Coach Jake White said his mission was to turn his inexperienced players into Test squad members and he did not disappoint.

Nic White, Dan Palmer, Michael Hooper, Jesse Mogg, Ben Mowen and Joseph Tomane were all called on to be part of Robbie Deans' training squad.

Palmer, Hooper and Tomane made their Test debuts while White sat on the bench and Mogg and Mowen were cut after the training camps.

The Brumbies have added Wallabies skipper David Pocock to their roster while 21-Test winger Clyde Rathbone also adds experience.

When the Lions last toured in 2001, the Wallabies squad was dominated by Brumbies, including Stephen Larkham, George Gregan and George Smith.

The Lions also played against the Brumbies in 2001, with the two-time Super Rugby champions losing an intense game by just two points.

Mogg and Tomane hope they get their chance to take on the power of the Lions – either for the Wallabies or when the tourists play at Canberra Stadium.

Mogg – who was 11 when the Lions last toured – burst out of club rugby and into the Super Rugby ranks last year before his form was rewarded with an unexpected call-up to the Wallabies training squad.

A British and Irish Lions call-up would cap off a remarkable two years.

"I obviously want to get back in the Wallabies fold some time," Mogg said.

"There are a lot of great outside backs around at the moment so I guess I'm down the pecking order at this stage.

"But I'm just going to concentrate on doing my thing for the Brumbies and play consistent footy. If that gets me a Wallabies jersey or in the squad then I'll be happy with that."

Tomane made the switch from the NRL to rugby union last season.

He started his first year with the Brumbies hoping to secure a spot on the bench by the final rounds.

His development was so rapid he became a regular fixture in the starting XV. He made his Test debut against Scotland before injury put his international career on hold.

"The Wallabies stuff is in the back of my mind, I'm focused on the Brumbies," Tomane said.

"Getting a chance to play against the Lions would be a great opportunity, but I guess I've got to show what I've got and the Brumbies coaching staff and program helps you play to the best of your ability."