The other part of the 37-year-old hooker saw the gruesome injury as a challenge to make a comeback as a better player as prepares to battle two young bucks for game time.

Mann-Rea has been cleared to play his first game since March and is expected to be named on the Canberra Vikings' bench for their clash against the Western Force at Viking Park on Sunday.

Young flanker Rob Valetini is also in selection contention after two knee injuries limited him to two games in his debut Super Rugby season.

Getting on the field will be a huge moment for the Mann-Rea, who has played just four games in the past 12 months after being rested from the National Rugby Championship last year before his Super Rugby campaign ended in agony.

But Mann-Rea's biggest strength is his resilience. That's why he's itching to get on the field rather than being nervous about trying to restart his career and a bid to reclaim the Brumbies' No. 2 jersey.

"The last month or so has been pretty good ... the first few months was pretty tough because I couldn't really do anything," Mann-Rea said.

"It wasn't a good one because I couldn't feel my leg. Normally you get up and try to run it off, but I couldn't feel it. So I thought this one could be pretty bad.

"Once I got the operation and the surgeon said it went well ... when I started running I was looking forward to getting back for the NRC.

"Everything else is back to normal. My goal was to get back for round one [of the NRC], but that was a little bit keen. I've only played three or four games this year, I'm just keen to play. Test the hammy out and get a bit of confidence in it before we rip into pre-season."

How did Mann-Rea know he was ready to play again after major hamstring surgery, tearing his adductor and training alone for the past six months?

"We had a solid contact session last week, went full noise and belted the hell out of each other," Mann-Rea grinned.

"I got a bit of confidence out of that. Usually that's tougher than a game because we're fresh and just lassooing each other. So after last week's training I'm feeling pretty good now.  I just want to get back and play some footy. That's what we're here to do."

Mann-Rea will be the oldest player in Super Rugby next year and could become the oldest player in the competition's history if he decides to play on again in 2020.

But he's showing no signs of slowing down after a late start to his Australian rugby career, and he'll square off against two 23-year-olds gunning for hooker game time next year.

Folau Faingaa stepped up in Mann-Rea's absence last year and played so well for the Brumbies he earned a Wallabies call up in the past two Tests.

Mann-Rea's injury also opened the door for Faingaa's former Australian under-20s teammate Connal McInerney to get a Super Rugby chance, and he didn't put a foot wrong in his opportunities.

"[I had] so many questions at scrum time and lineout and I'd go straight to [Mann-Rea]," McInerney said.

"Same with Folau. He's helped us both a lot, so it's been really good. It's a positive [battle], we've got good depth in that position, especially with Folau doing so well and Bongo being a seasoned veteran.

"You see Bongo [Mann-Rea] in the gym there working hard, it makes me pull my finger out a bit."

McInerney scored two tries in the Vikings' win against Sydney last week, helping the Canberra side get is NRC campaign back on track after a round-one loss.

NRC ROUND THREE

Sunday: Canberra Vikings v Western Force at Viking Park, 3pm. Entry is free.