The desire for game time could trump the lure of a green and gold tracksuit as ACT Brumbies scrumhalf Joe Powell chases crucial minutes to help force his way back into Wallabies calculations.
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Powell will headline a list of four returning Brumbies players named in the Canberra Vikings side to play against the Western Force at Viking Park on Sunday.
Tom Banks will be parachuted into the starting XV after being released by the Wallabies, while Powell and injured duo Josh Mann-Rea and Rob Valetini will be on the bench.
Powell's case is quickly becoming an intriguing scenario for Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who picked the 24-year-old on his Test bench last week but then decided not to use him.
It was a familiar scenario for Powell, who has been included in every Wallabies training squad since June last year but has played just four of a possible 20 Tests.
He was left on the bench for the entire game against South Africa last week and Cheika has clearly marked Powell as the No. 3 scrumhalf behind Will Genia and Nick Phipps.
So after just 46 minutes of Test rugby in almost 18 months, is Powell better served by consistent game time in the National Rugby Championship or brief tastes of international action and the Wallabies training environment?
If Powell is kept in the Wallabies' camp for a two-game tour of South Africa and Argentina, he faces the prospect of travelling around the world for no game time instead of playing three NRC games.
But is NRC game time worth sacrificing being in Wallabies selection contention?
As much time on the field will be crucial to Powell's hopes of being included in a World Cup squad next year, but any absence from Wallabies camp would open the door for someone to snatch his place.
It's an unenviable position for Powell and the Wallabies to be in.
Either way, the Vikings hope Powell will take his opportunity to play when he joins the squad for a clash against the Force, but coach Nick Scrivener has opted to give Ryan Lonergan a starting chance to keep a settled back line.
Powell has played 42 Super Rugby games since making his debut three years ago and will give the Vikings extra punch against a Force side full of Canberra rugby talent.
Former Tuggeranong and Canberra NRC coach Tim Sampson has taken the Force reins this year and his team will boast links to the Brumbies via skipper Ian Prior, Harry Lloyd, Chris Alcock, Rodney Iona and Leon Power.
The Vikings delayed naming their team to wait to see if Powell and Banks were included in the Wallabies team, but ended up making just one change to their starting XV with Banks replacing Chance Peni.
"You've just got to roll with it ... it's just where we're at in terms of the competition and the Wallabies naming teams late," Scrivener said.
"We've spoken about having plans early in the week that might change late in the week. You've just got to get on with it, there's no time to dwell on it."
The return of Mann-Rea and Valetini will be a major boost for the Vikings. Mann-Rea hasn't played a game since March after his hamstring snapped off the bone in a Super Rugby match.
Valentini, 20, has already been earmarked as a future Wallaby, but two knee injuries limited him to just three Super Rugby games in his debut season.
"[Valetini] is a tremendous talent. I haven't had a lot to do with him apart from the last couple of weeks here," Scrivener said.
"But watching him and now working with him, it's amazing he's that young. He's such a big unit and moves so well. He's a football player - he's got good instincts, is physically, skilful, big and enthusiastic.
"It will probably take some time for those [returning injured guys] to find their level, but I'm looking forward to it."
NRC ROUND THREE
Sunday: Canberra Vikings v Western Force at Viking Park, 3pm. Entry is free.
Vikings: 1. Sione Taula, 2. Connal McInerney, 3. Les Leuluaialii-Makin, 4. Blake Enever, 5. Darcy Swain, 6. BJ Edwards, 7. Michael Oakman-Hunt, 8. Ben Hyne, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 11. Andy Muirhead, 12. Jordan Jackson-Hope, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Lausii Taliauli, 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. Josh Mann-Rea, 17. Vunipola Fifita, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Rob Valetini, 20. Brodie Leber, 21. Joe Powell, 22. Irae Simone, 23. Mack Hansen.
