With the Brumbies this year, rookie outside back James Dargaville was often injected off the bench when the game was on the line.
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But the 23-year-old is enjoying the opportunity for a starting role with the Canberra Vikings and using his second season in the National Rugby Championship to develop his game.
The Vikings will be aiming to extend their brilliant unbeaten start to the NRC to four games when they host Dargaville's former team, the Sydney Stars, at Viking Park on Thursday night.
Dargaville's performances for the Stars in last year's inaugural edition of the NRC led to him signing a Super Rugby contract with the Brumbies.
He was used mainly on the wing or at outside centre in 12 appearances as a reserve behind the Brumbies' international starting backline.
"Super Rugby is quite stressful, especially coming on in the last 10 or 15 minutes in close games," Dargaville said.
"It really means a lot because the team was pushing so hard to put us in the right place at the end of the season.
"It was very stressful, but I really enjoyed it and learnt so much."
An Australian under-20 representative in 2012, Dargaville played for Sydney University in the Shute Shield for the past two years.
That led to his selection for the Stars last year where he caught the eye of the Brumbies.
He impressed in his first season in a backline which features plenty of Wallabies stars, including Matt Toomua, Henry Speight, Joe Tomane and Christian Lealiifano.
"From playing club rugby in Sydney, it's very different to coming in and training every day as a professional athlete," Dargaville said.
"That starting backline for the Brumbies is pretty incredible.
"It's just a matter of learning and biding my time and when I do get my opportunities, making the most of it."
Lealiifano, lock Rory Arnold and prop Ben Alexander are expected to return to the Vikings' line-up after the trio was rested for last Saturday's 26-23 win against the Perth Spirit in Perth.
Vikings tight-head prop Leslie Leulua'iali'i-Makin said there could be some changes to the side with the short five-day turnaround.
"I think there would be a few more changes to bring some fresh boys into the squad to give a lift to us," Leulua'iali'i-Makin said.
"It's always good to have the Wallabies guys training with us.
"To have them with us this Thursday is a big boost."
National Rugby Championship: Canberra Vikings v Sydney Stars at Viking Park on Thursday night, 7.30pm.
