ACT Brumbies fullback Jesse Mogg hopes a stint in club rugby can ignite his Super Rugby season, adamant his return to Wests will help him find his love of the game again.
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Mogg will end months of injury frustration when he joins Brumbies teammates Fotu Auelua and Sean Doyle in Wests' John I Dent Cup season opener against Royals on Saturday.
It's a chance for the former Wallabies No.15 to get some game time after spending almost five months out after shoulder surgery and an ear infection, which delayed his Brumbies return.
Mogg is facing stiff competition from Robbie Coleman to win back his Brumbies place, but the 25-year-old says his only focus is making rugby fun after his run of injuries.
"It's been a frustrating start for me. I pushed hard to get back from the shoulder injury and then my body started to break down a bit," Mogg said.
"I love [Wests] and I owe a lot to them, so any time I can play for them I put my hand up.
"This is the starting point for me to try to have a strong season for the rest of the year. For me it's about having a run, trying to get some minutes in my legs and get back to having fun.
"This year is just about me trying to enjoy footy again and trying to get a roll on."
The Wests' trio will take on Royals in the clash at Radford College while prop Allan Allaalatoa will play for the Uni-Norths Owls against Easts.
Mogg was plucked from the Wests' first-grade side by Jake White at the end of 2011 and was given a chance to prove himself in Super Rugby.
Mogg took his opportunity and made his Wallabies debut in 2013, but injuries and form have thwarted his bid to lock down a regular place in the Test team.
The Wallabies will be the furthest thing from his mind when he returns to his Canberra rugby roots.
An mystery ear infection two weeks ago left Mogg bed-ridden for four days as he struggled with his balance and dizziness.
But he is itching for game time to push his bid for a Super Rugby return in the coming weeks.
"Club rugby isn't as stressful, but you don't go in and overplay your hand. I just want to find my groove in the game ... it's a lot easier playing in front of 100 people than a few thousand," Mogg said.
Canberra's premier rugby competition has three new coaches taking the reins this season.
Dan Atkins replaces Owen Finegan at the Gungahlin Eagles, former Queanbeyan Whites mentor Wayne Southwell is staring his new role at Royals and former Brumby John Ross is in charge at Easts.
JOHN I DENT CUP ROUND 1
Saturday: Queanbeyan Whites v Gungahlin Eagles at Campese Field, Uni-Norths Owls v Easts at RMC, Wests v Royals at Radford College. All games at 3.05pm. Tuggeranong Vikings - bye.
QUEANBEYAN WHITES
Coach: Adam Fahey
Brumbies players: Nic White, Robbie Coleman, Tevita Kuridrani, Les Makin
New players: Carl Elliott, Puavao Samoa, Samuel Samuelu, Ratu Tagive
GUNGAHLIN EAGLES
Coach: Dan Atkins
Brumbies players: Henry Speight, Josh Mann-Rea, Rory Arnold, James Dargaville
New players: Jamie Kotz
WESTS
Coach: Craig Robberds
Brumbies players: Jesse Mogg, Fotu Auelua, Sean Doyle, Scott Fardy
New players: James Hounslow, Joe Smellie, Rob Buaserua, Jare Morell
ROYALS
Coach: Wayne Southwell
Brumbies players: Sam Carter, Matt Toomua, Siliva Siliva, Tom Staniforth, Lausii Taliauli
New players: Scott Pattison, Ryan Kotlewski
UNI-NORTHS OWLS
Coach: Joe Hedger
Brumbies players: Ben Alexander, David Pocock, Joe Tomane, Allan Alaalatoa, Michael Dowsett
New players: Fabian Tago, Ieti Tago, Ray Dobson, Nicholas Dobson, Tapiwa Mangwana, Paula Kato, Peni Likio
EASTS
Coach: John Ross
Brumbies players: Ruan Smith, Jordan Smiler, Stephen Moore, JP Smith, Blake Enever
New players: Joel Brown, JP Fenikatou
TUGGERANONG VIKINGS
Coach: Brad Harris
Brumbies players: Scott Sio, Christian Lealiifano, Jarrad Butler, Nigel Ah Wong, Rod Iona
