Brett Robinson medallist Jarrad Butler wants to live up to the history of the award and is prepared to move to No.8 to accommodate the return of David Pocock.
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The ACT Brumbies flanker will continue his preparations for next season by lining up for the Canberra Vikings in Saturday's National Rugby Championship match against Queensland Country at Viking Park.
Brumbies winger Henry Speight is also on track for his first appearance for the Vikings this season as the Fijian-born flyer gets closer to a possible Wallabies debut against Argentina on the Gold Coast on September 13.
Speight becomes eligible on September 11 to represent the Wallabies, who take on South Africa in Perth on Saturday night.
Butler was the big winner at the Brumbies' end-of-season awards function on Saturday night, named both the Super Rugby club's players' player and the Shawn Mackay most outstanding young player.
The 23-year-old had a terrific rookie season for the Brumbies, playing almost every minute of every game.
He is among illustrious company, with Wallabies great George Smith and fly-half Matt Giteau – who was capped 92 times by his country – among the previous winners of the award.
"I do want to try and live up to the award, the guys who have won it before are amazing players," Butler said.
"I will have high expectations on myself next year and do whatever I can for the team.
"I've had a little bit of a look at the shield and it's pretty special to have your name alongside those guys."
Butler became the Brumbies' starting open-side flanker this year after Pocock's season-ending knee injury.
But with Pocock ready to get back to the blistering form that made him one of the best flankers in the world, finding a spot in the starting XV will be Butler's next challenge.
He looms as a replacement at No. 8 for the departed Brumbies captain, Ben Mowen, who has joined French club Montpellier.
Butler played 20 minutes at No.8 for the Vikings in last week's win against the Greater Sydney Rams at Parramatta Stadium, and he also has experience at blindside flanker.
"Poey's one of the best open-side flankers in the world, and hopefully I'll try to make a change and fit into the team somewhere," Butler said.
"I love playing No.8 and I feel pretty comfortable playing there, but it's been a while since I've strung a few games there.
"That will come down to what [Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham] and [assistant coach Dan McKellar] want to do."
Butler is one of two vice-captains of the Vikings in the NRC, and he also played for the Tuggeranong Vikings in the semi-finals and final of the John I Dent Cup once his commitments with the Brumbies had finished.
McKellar said Butler rarely played a bad game and his major strength was his consistency.
"His performance on the field mirrors his preparation," McKellar said. "His on-field performance is always of a high quality.
"There's no rocks or diamonds with Jarrad Butler – you always know what you're going to get."
Saturday: National Rugby Championship – Canberra Vikings v Queensland Country at Viking Park, 2.30pm.
