Overlooked Wallaby Joe Powell is set to end his rugby exile and have his first chance to prove selectors wrong when he wears the Canberra Vikings' No.9 jumper on Saturday.
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The World Cup hopeful will play his first game of the National Rugby Championship in the Vikings' clash with the Western Force in Perth.
Powell returned to the Vikings' squad last week but scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan's 80 minute performance against Brisbane City meant he was on the bench for the entire game.
It comes after the 25-year-old was left out of the Wallabies' World Cup squad and then strangely omitted from their warm-up match against Samoa.
Powell and Lonergan are set to compete for the ACT Brumbies' No.9 jumper next year and goal kicking could be a crucial selection factor following the departure of Christian Lealiifano.
Lonergan is currently the leading point scorer of the competition with 11 successful conversions and three penalty goals.
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Vikings coach Nick Scrivener has named the scrumhalf on the bench to cover Powell, while flyhalf Noah Lolesio will take over the goal kicking duties this week.
"Ryan has been playing well and there's not much between them but these decisions are made each week on the balance of what's best for the squad," Scrivener said.
"Getting minutes into Joe, particularly in that position, is important.
"He'll bring lots of energy, communication, toughness and service. He hasn't played for a while and didn't last week so I'd imagine he'd be keen as mustard to get going."
Centre Len Ikitau returns to make his maiden start of the season with Tom Wright nursing a hamstring niggle.
Tom Banks is also in line for his first start at fullback after Brumby Toni Pulu was ruled out with illness.
Scrivener intended to name the Super Rugby star in the reserves to load up the bench and close down the match, but was forced to switch Andy Muirhead to the wing to replace Pulu.
"It's always a balance when players come back," Scrivener said.
"Originally I wanted a team who could finish the game well because it's going to be a quick given how both teams play.
"We'll still have a strong bench and starting side. Like any other game, we want to start well but I think the ball is going to be in play a lot against the Western Force and we'll certainly need to finish well."
The Vikings have won two of their three games so far this season, but their fourth-round clash against the top-ranked Force could have a major impact on their title charge.
"They've probably been the form team and are undefeated," Scrivener said.
"There's a lot of structure in their game and the key for us is disrupting that."
NRC ROUND FOUR Saturday: Western Force v Canberra Vikings at Perth, 5pm AEST.
Vikings: 1. Fred Kaihea, 2. Lachlan Lonergan, 3. Nic Dobson, 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Blake Enever, 6. Pete Samu, 7. Luke Gersekowski, 8. Rob Valetini, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Mack Hansen, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. TP Luteru, 17. Bo Abra, 18. Angus Wagner, 19. Nick Frost, 20 Will Miller, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Bayley Kuenzle, 23. George Morseu.
Lucie Bertoldo
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
