Thwack! The reverse bellyflop sends water flying to create an eye-catching effect for The Canberra Times Super Rugby guide. But Banks' eyes are closed at the moment of impact, so he does it again.

He drags himself out of the pool, fully clothed in ACT Brumbies kit and wearing old boots, and continues to throw himself backwards without fear.

Thwack! Banks wants to keep going until he gets it right, but The Canberra Times photographer steps in and says it's time to stop to avoid injuring his back before the season-opener on Friday.

The flying fullback will start the biggest year of his career when the Brumbies play against the Melbourne Rebels at Canberra Stadium in the first game of the season.

The reason why he continually jumped backwards off the edge of the pool is the same reason why he's on the Wallabies' radar for the World Cup this year.

A conversation with Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has given Banks a licence to play without fear and it has unlocked his attacking brilliance.

"There's sort a point where you start to question yourself. In terms of wondering if what you're doing is working, or is it working for the team," Banks said.

"The biggest thing for that was persevering. Always knowing you had the ability and being able to play with no fear, not worrying about mistakes or anything like that.

"[McKellar] spoke about the things he wanted to see in me. What I learnt was to not take it for granted, nothing is guaranteed and you've got to earn it. That's how I want it to be.

"And the biggest thing was just about playing without fear. I think that has helped me a lot."

Banks is the attacking spark the Brumbies have been searching for, leading a revival towards the end of last season but ultimately falling short of their finals goal.

The change was triggered at Sydney airport before the Brumbies flew to South Africa to play the Johannesburg Lions and the Pretoria Bulls.

McKellar gathered his players, sensing the pressure and external criticism was starting to weigh them down. McKellar came up with a way to put the players behind the wheel, and it worked.

Banks had been dropped earlier in the season, but his ears pricked up in that meeting. He scored six tries in the last six games of the season, coinciding with the Brumbies finding form and catapulting him into the Wallabies squad.

"You can see he's more confident, and so he should be," McKellar said.

"The confidence he's taken out of being picked for the Wallabies is there, now he wants to take his game to the next level.

"He really thrived [with no fear], he's the type of player who if you release the concern of errors, he can use his natural skill and ability. That's what we want to see this year."

Banks is one of only a handful of guaranteed selections in the Brumbies' starting side for the opening game of the year after a breakout season, which led to a new long-term contract.

He made his Wallabies debut against New Zealand, but Test coach Michael Cheika baffled many when he opted not to use the 24-year-old in any of the spring tour games in Europe.

It was only a couple of years ago that Banks was in a case of mistaken identity when All Blacks legend Tana Umaga thought his name was Tom Hanks.

Banks is ready to make a name for himself, unfazed by the challenge of trying to secure a World Cup ticket or knowing Israel Folau is ahead of him in the Wallabies' No. 15 pecking order.

The former Australian under-20s member is usually relaxed and understated. McKellar describes him as the quiet achiever, but a taste of Wallabies action has ignited his international fire.

"The thing I took out of last year was knowing what it takes to be good at the next level," Banks said.

"Not just being good, but being able to stand out as well. To do that you've got to have everything right. The things you don't think about, even they have to be top notch."

Banks has watched David Pocock closely in Wallabies camps to see what has to be done to be world class. He has leaned on housemate and teammate Wharenui Hawera for advice when facing adversity.

But the fleet-footed former Queensland back had to leap over some giant hurdles just to get to Canberra.

Banks played two games for the Queensland Reds, but was on the outer with the club after shoulder problems. He was on a minimum wage development contract, working part-time doing maintenance work and studying when he faced his rugby sink or swim moment.

Banks decided an National Rugby Championship season with Queensland Country was his chance to see if professional rugby was achievable, or just a pipedream.

Thwack! Banks lit up the NRC, tearing teams apart and scoring a double against the Canberra Vikings. McKellar spotted him and then-coach Stephen Larkham offered him a contract.

"For me it was a do-or-die moment in terms of rugby. I didn't want to go back to the shadows again ... I didn't want to go backwards," Banks said.

"I really needed to do well and that pushed me through. It was lucky how it came about [with the Brumbies], I was hoping for anything. To see the Brumbies take a leap of faith, that gave me confidence."

SUPER RUGBY ROUND ONE

Friday: ACT Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm.

Brumbies: 1. James Slipper, 2. Folau Faingaa, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Sam Carter, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. David Pocock, 8. Lachlan McCaffrey, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Toni Pulu, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. Josh Mann-Rea, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Les Leuluaialii-Makin, 19. Blake Enever, 20. Pete Samu, 21. Matt Lucas, 22. Wharenui Hawera, 23. Andy Muirhead.