Reigning ACT Brumbies player of the year Jarrad Butler has rebuffed plans for a rotation policy after a brutal start to the Super Rugby season, declaring he will fight to hold onto his starting spot for as long as possible.
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But the 23-year-old admits he faces an uphill task in the next two weeks to prove he deserves a place in the forward pack with David Pocock and Fotu Auelua edging closer to comebacks.
The Brumbies have endured a draining start to the season, holding on for a nail-biting victory against the Melbourne Rebels last weekend despite having the ball for just 36 per cent of game time.
Butler has been outstanding in the opening three games, and swatted away any suggestion of rotation after just three games in a bid to continue his impressive form.
But Ita Vaea's remarkable Super Rugby comeback and the impending return of Pocock and Auelua has put pressure on the former Australian under-20s representative to keep his spot.
"The six-day turnarounds are always hard ... it's important to get rest so we can keep building up," Butler said.
"The back row at the moment is so competitive, but I think that's a good thing. To have Poey and Fotu coming back is really exciting, but it makes it really hard for someone like myself to stay in the team.
"But it just means all I can do is the best I can when I'm on the field and hope you're still there next week. Very much [I could be on the bench]. If Bernie [Larkham] decides he wants something different then all you can do is adapt."
Pocock (ankle) and Auelua (knee) are being eased back into training duties after their seasons stalled.
Both will be unavailable for selection for the clash against the Western Force at Canberra Stadium on Friday night but could come into contention next week if they prove their fitness.
It means starters Butler and Vaea, as well as bench back-rower Jordan Smiler, have one more week to stamp their claim for regular selection.
"I'll go back into no-contact training this week and then it's touch and go to see how I go from there," Auelua said.
"We've got a good side at the moment and Ita Vaea played one of the best games I've seen him play [against the Rebels].
"The energy he brings into the team ... Jarrad's still carrying on his form from last year and Scott Fardy is an international player. Then there's Poey to come back ... it's going to be a hard ask to get a spot again.
"But I'm going to do whatever's best for the team. I want to feel a part of the team and I'll work as hard as I can."
The Brumbies will take on the Force in Canberra in their third Australian derby of the season, with the Perth-based team set to inject the Honey Badger, Nick Cummins, into its starting side.
Cummins has returned to Australian rugby to chase a World Cup berth after a stint in Japan, and the cult hero winger will take on Wallabies rival Henry Speight in a mouth-watering wing battle.
The Force were embarrassed in a loss to the Wellington Hurricanes last week and the Brumbies ended the Force's finals hopes in a last-round clash in Canberra last year.
"They'll definitely be coming back [to Canberra with something to prove]," Butler said. "They've got so many talented players in their team and when they turn it on they can be devastating.
"You definitely can't be complacent against a team like the Force. They beat us in a pre-season trial and they're going to come here all guns blazing."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND FOUR
Friday: ACT Brumbies v Western Force at Canberra Stadium, 7.40pm. Tickets available at Ticketek.
TV time: Live on Fox Sports 2.
