ACT Brumbies skipper Sam Carter says he will withdraw from selection contention if he fails to overcome a back problem, adding he won't risk being a liability for the refreshed side's make or break clash on Saturday night.
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The Brumbies reconvened as a full squad on Tuesday for the first time since June 3 and the club's lowest Wallabies representation in more than 20 years is fuelling their unlikely finals hopes.
Carter said second-row partner Rory Arnold trained like he was "ready to rip someone's head off" against the Wellington Hurricanes at Canberra Stadium in what will be his first game since May 19.
Just three Brumbies - David Pocock, Scott Sio and Joe Powell - played for the Wallabies in the mid-year series against Ireland, giving the ACT side fresh legs for the last three games of the Super Rugby season.
Carter, however, is in a fight to prove he's ready to play, admitting he hasn't been able to run at full speed for the past three weeks after his back seized up.
He was put through a fitness test at training at Marist College and is part of a trio, which also includes Allan Alaalatoa and Lachlan McCaffrey, racing the clock to be available for selection.
Carter was on limited training duties alongside Pocock, Alaalatoa and Sio on Tuesday, with the Brumbies needing to win the three remaining games in the regular season to be any chance of making the finals.
"If I can run, I'll be right to play. But if I can't, I won't play," Carter said.
"I've played with a stiff back or a bad back before, that doesn't worry me. But I won't be going out there if I don't think I can get through the game or if it's going to affect me, that's not helping the team.
"We've got some Wallabies guys back in this week and some of those guys haven't played much, so they'll be ready to rip in. You can see the energy the Wallabies guys brought in as soon as they got back."
The good news for the Brumbies is their contingent of Wallabies are relatively fresh after Australian coach Michael Cheika used just three ACT players against Ireland.
It was the lowest Brumbies representation in a June Test series since the start of professional rugby in 1996.
Alaalatoa, Tevita Kuridrani, Tom Banks, Rory Arnold and Folau Faingaa were kept on ice during the games against Ireland, while Joe Powell was a back-up scrumhalf in the third Test last weekend.
Carter is hoping the caged Brumbies will be ready to unleash when they get their opportunity to play against the Hurricanes, in particular towering second-rower Arnold.
Arnold was in career-best form before being suspended for a high tackle in the match against the Johannesburg Lions. Hooker Faingaa is also poised for his comeback after being suspended before the Wallabies series.
"I saw Rory training this morning and he looked like he was ready to rip someone's head off," Carter grinned.
"He's pretty excited for this week ... he's in great shape and Folau hasn't played. Then there's Tevita, Banksy, it's exciting having the team back together.
"There's an opportunity for the blokes who didn't play [for the Wallabies] and they can prove a point. That will be massive for us."
The Brumbies haven't beaten a New Zealand opponent since toppling the Hurricanes in the opening game of the 2016 season.
SUPER RUGBY ROUND 17
Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Wellington Hurricanes at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
