Rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament was the hardest thing she's ever experienced, but the ACT Brumbies forward has found a silver lining as she edges closer to a rugby comeback.

Stanford is poised to make her return from injury when the Brumbies host Western Australia in their season opener at Canberra Stadium on Saturday, February 15.

The 23-year-old has been diligently working her way back onto the field after going down in the Brumbies' semi-final loss to the Queensland Reds last year.

The unexpected benefit of the lengthy break was being able to step back and look at the bigger picture, before focusing on what she wants to achieve when she returns.

"It was a very heartbreaking moment. Looking back, it was one of the hardest things I've ever experienced," Stanford said.

"Going out in the first 15 minutes of the final and then not being able to play since has been very hard and challenging.

"I feel like with the sport we chose to play, injuries are always a possibility and it just moulds us as a person to see how resilient we can be and whether we can bounce back from that.

"I'm very grateful to have the support staff surrounding me to help me stay on track to where I need to be in order to play again.

"I feel like I've recovered quite well and I'm basically back into full training. I'm still limited with a couple of things but I'm back with the squad, which has been really exciting."

Stanford was expected to force her way into the Wallaroos squad after an outstanding Super W seasonbut has had to wait for her chance to play Test rugby.

The former Youth Olympics sevens gold medallist is putting herself back on the Wallaroos selection radar, with the 2021 Rugby World Cup on the horizon.

"I've got goals in rugby I want to be able to achieve. I was very determined to bounce back from this injury and achieve the things I want to do with the sport," Stanford said.

"My goal is being able to participate in Super W games and from there onwards, being selected for the Wallaroos.

"Being able to put on the green-and-gold jersey would be my biggest focus. From there, hopefully being able to stay within the squad going into the World Cup."

If Brumbies coach Adam Butt had his way, Stanford's international debut wouldn't be far away.

MORE BRUMBIES NEWS

"I hope she is on track for that goal [of playing at the World Cup]. She was Super W player of the year," Butt said.

"It's pleasing to see Tayla get that recognition for the work she puts in, not just her journey off the field but on the field especially. The way she plays the game is really hard and abrasive.

"They would be crazy not to pick her, to be honest. If she is in form and not injured, I'd be picking her."

The Brumbies have two trials scheduled against the Melbourne Rebels and NSW Waratahs before the season kicks off next month.

Stanford is hopeful of having a pre-season hit out against the Waratahs on Saturday, February 8 to dust off some cobwebs and gain crucial preparation time with the new-look side.

The Brumbies have increased their squad by four players from 2019, in a bid to expose more promising youngsters to the Super W environment.

"It's a mix of old and new and they seem to get along well," Butt said.

"It is a bit of a changing of the guard and I think that's going to happen over the next few years until it settles down, with the amount of 17-year-old girls playing rugby around Australia.

"The competition level is going to drive the older girls to keep up, it's survival of the fittest in the end."

BRUMBIES' 2020 SUPER W DRAW

Round 1: Brumbies v Western Australia at Canberra Stadium, Saturday, February 15, 4.35pm.

Round 2: Melbourne Rebels v Brumbies in Ballarat, Saturday, February 22, 12.10pm.

Round 3: NSW Waratahs v Brumbies at Western Sydney Stadium, Friday, February 28, 4.35pm.

Round 4: Bye.

Round 5: Brumbies v Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium, Sunday, March 15, 1.15pm.

BRUMBIES' 2020 SUPER W SQUAD

Forwards: Ellie Brislane, Louise Burrows, Peta Cox, Kathryn Cudaj, Harriet Elleman, Ash Fernandez, Krystal Fyfe, Grace Kemp, Michaela Leonard (c), Emma Masi, Tania Ofamasaga, Niki Paterson, Paige Penning, Pearl Rakete, Emily Soga, Rebecca Smyth, Tayla Stanford, Grace Sullivan, Jasmine Veikune, Iris Verebalavu, Zali Waihape-Andrews.

Backs: Biola Dawa, Jane Garraway (c), Allyssa Lolesio-Pua, Phoebe Loughhead, Claudia Obst, Pesi Palu, Caitlin Quester, Gabrielle Petersen, Darcy Read, Ella Ryan, Ainsley Scrivener, Talei Wilson, Sammie Wood.