A chance to fill the shoes of a Wallabies flyer is "just the tip of the iceberg" for Mack Hansen as he looks to lock down a place in the ACT Brumbies' back three.
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Hansen has been training on the wing at Brumbies headquarters ahead of the club's Super Rugby season opener against the Western Force on Friday night.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar names his side on Wednesday night ahead of the trip to Perth with Hansen looming as a major chance to fill Tom Wright's place on the wing.
Newly-minted Wallaby Wright is out of a knee brace but is poised to miss a chunk of the Super Rugby AU season with bone bruising while Solomone Kata is overcoming a niggling injury complaint of his own.
It leaves a gap on the edge with fullback Tom Banks and winger Andy Muirhead to fill the other places in the reigning champions' back three.
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Hansen has come through the ranks as a flyhalf and admits fullback is his preferred position now, but he will jump at any chance to establish himself in the club's starting XV.
"It's really exciting. I feel like I've done my trade, I've been here for a number of years now," Hansen said.
"It's unfortunate for Wrighty, you don't wish that on anyone, but it's a great opportunity for me to hopefully show what I can do.
"He's been great. A lot of people could just sit on the sideline and sulk, but he's the opposite to that.
"He is looking to lend a helping hand wherever he can, and he has obviously come off a stint with the Wallabies where he played great as well. To have his input on how I can improve my game has been awesome.
"I had a little bit of time there [on the wing] in NRC a year or two ago, so it's not too new. I've had Andy Muirhead and Tom Wright really helping me through, so it's been a good transition.
"It helps put my hand up for selection each week, being able to play a number of positions. I'm just happy to do whatever I can to help the team, wherever they need me.
"I'm enjoying my time on the wing actually, being able to hopefully finish off a few tries this weekend would be nice."
Wright gained 7.8 metres per carry in Super Rugby AU last year, the most by any player to make at least 45 carries, before being drafted into Dave Rennie's Tri Nations team.
Brumbies scrumhalf Nic White has backed Hansen to fill the void ahead of a clash with a Force outfit using last year's winless campaign as motivation this season.
"Mack is going to have a great year this year, this is just the tip of the iceberg for Mack," White said.
"As he gets a little bit more game time and time in the saddle, we're going to see there is more to Mack Hansen than meets the eye.
"He's a big body, he's quick, he's a ball player, great vision, never shuts up which is great."
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports journalist for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports journalist for The Canberra Times.
