But Brumbies director of rugby Laurie Fisher said the club had not begun ''grooming'' a successor and the search for the next captain wasn't limited to the 2014 leadership group.

Lealiifano will join captain Mowen, Stephen Moore, David Pocock, Fotu Auelua and Clyde Rathbone in the Brumbies' senior leadership group this year.

Mowen offered to stand down as captain but Fisher and coach Stephen Larkham insisted he was still the best man for the job.

''There's good capacity in the leadership group, but there's no grooming factor in it,'' Fisher said.

''It's just what we believe to be the best six people for this year. There are other guys who have responsibility like Scott Fardy, Matt Toomua … they're not in the leadership group but are fundamentally important.

''We'll look at the next captain next year. We've got a better spread of leadership now, we don't want to load any one person up.''

Former Wallabies captain Pocock, Australia's most capped hooker Moore and Lealiifano are obvious candidates to take over the captaincy reins.

Lealiifano is targeting a Super Rugby comeback against the NSW Waratahs on March 15 after having off-season ankle surgery to allow him to play pain-free this year.

''We're going to use everyone's different skill sets [in the leadership group] and I'm sure the next captain will come out of it,'' Lealiifano said.

''We'll all work closely together this year to put our own identity on the team and how we want it to run.''

Lealiifano hopes to be out of his moon boot by the weekend following ankle surgery in December.

He played through pain for most of last year, including the Wallabies' spring tour of Europe and his latest operation was to clean up the ankle he dislocated in the 2013 season.

The 26-year-old has had five operations on his shoulders and ankle in the past 18 months.

''You'd think you'd get some sort of warranty on things like this; all the nurses know who I am when I go in,'' Lealiifano joked. ''The Brumbies wanted me to have surgery straight away, but I had some ambitions to play as much footy as I could and I think we found a good balance there.''

Lealiifano is yet to start contract negotiations with the Brumbies and is one of of six Wallabies - along with Toomua, Fardy, Nic White, Scott Sio and Jesse Mogg - who are searching for new ACT deals.

Auelua, Rathbone and Lealiifano are all off contract at the end of the season.

''I just want to contribute to the team and I'm really pleased … I want to prove on the field that I can perform well and lead that way,'' Auelua said.