Wallaby-in-waiting Tom Banks will give the ACT Brumbies another attacking weapon for their interstate showdown with the NSW Waratahs as he prepares to relaunch his Test hopes after a four-month wait.
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Banks will return as the Brumbies' fullback for the rivalry battle against the Waratahs in Sydney after recovering from stress fractures in his foot.
The injury delayed his ability to train or play for the past two months, but he missed just one game because of the coronavirus shutdown and the Brumbies having a bye in round two of the new domestic competition.
The Brumbies will be hoping Banks can pick up where he left off. His last touches is in the now defunct Super Rugby season was a slicing run to score in the final minute of a huge win against the Waratahs on March 15, then kicking the final conversion to add salt to the NSW wounds.
Banks scored four tries in six games before the competition was stopped after the Brumbies beat the Waratahs 47-14 in Canberra.
His form made new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie take notice, with Banks considered the front-runner to fill the Wallabies' No. 15 jersey this year if he continues his sparkling performances.
Banks was left out of the Wallabies' World Cup squad last year and has played just six Tests in the two years since bursting into the national squad.
The departure of Kurtley Beale and the absence of Israel Folau has opened the door for Wallabies fullback contenders, with Banks and Melbourne's Dane Haylett-Petty the likely options.
The hope is the law variations introduced this year will give players like Banks more opportunities in attack and the 26-year-old is keen to explore open space on Saturday night.
"As a back you always want to see [the game] sped up, but depending on how teams want to play, it's up to them," Banks said.
"You've got to take time and build where your team is dominant. We've obviously got a really strong set piece, which is a focus of ours.
"The main difference I've seen ... you've got to be aware of the 50-22, that opens up a lot of space for teams to run on the edges. Again, it will be a good test this weekend and we've got to be ready.
"It changes things for the back three, you've got to be wary of the little kick in behind and to shut down the run. A few things to think about."
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Banks said the stress fractures on the outside of his right foot flared up after the season stopped, limiting his training until returning to full contact work this week.
He is expected to slot straight back into the Brumbies' starting XV, but coach Dan McKellar will have to decide how to balance his back line with Solomone Kata also close to returning and Mack Hansen putting in a solid performance in Banks' absence.
Lock Nick Frost is also back at training, giving the Brumbies another second-row option. But minimal changes are expected after the Brumbies held on for victory in round one.
"It's hard when you have a bye early in the season, but it was good to get away after a long block of pre-season training. Now everyone's happy to get back into it," Banks said.
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Saturday: NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies at Olympic Stadium, 7.15pm