The World Cup and Super Rugby finals are his ultimate goals, but ACT Brumbies prop Scott Sio is prepared to clear his injury hurdle in Canberra's top-grade competition first before pushing for Wallabies selection.
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Sio will end six weeks of injury frustration when he makes a cameo appearance for the Tuggeranong Vikings in the John I Dent Cup competition on Saturday.
Out of action with a knee injury since April 10, the Wallabies hopeful is using the rare club rugby appearance to relaunch his season.
"Everyone knows the importance of this year, you'd be lying if you said you weren't striving towards [Super Rugby finals and the World Cup]," Sio said.
"It's obviously something I'm striving towards, it's every player's dream. It's the Olympic Games of rugby union and I know the next three weeks are crucial to that.
"For that to come to fruition, I've got to make sure I put in a good performance for the Vikings."
The Vikings are one-point clear at the top of the John I Dent Cup ladder, but have last-season's runners-up Queanbeyan nipping at their heels.
They play the Uni-Norths Owls at Viking Park and prop Sio's return is a major boost for the four-time defending premiers.
Sio is set to play 40 minutes. If he gets through unscathed, he will be promoted back into Super Rugby for the Brumbies' run to the finals. The Brumbies need to win their three remaining games to clinch a play-off berth.
His form will determine whether Wallabies coach Michael Cheika then includes him in his World Cup squad for the tournament in England and Wales later this year.
Sio has been growing a beard through his rehabilitation training, but will be happy to get rid of it.
"I'll go back to that clean-cut look, it's just a bit of a routine thing I've had with a beard when I get injured," Sio said.
The Brumbies have lost four of their past six games, but got things back on track with a win against the Johannesburg Lions last week.
But Sio's immediate focus is on his comeback match for the Vikings. Tuggeranong have lost only one match this year and have been the most dominant team in the competition for almost five years.
"For me it's about getting into my mental process again and approaching this game [for Tuggeranong] as I would for Super Rugby. Luckily I get club rugby before a big game for the Brumbies next week.
"I'll give it everything for 40 minutes. I get more nervous sitting in the crowd than I do when I'm out there."
JOHN I DENT CUP ROUND 8
Saturday: Tuggeranong Vikings v Uni-Norths Owls at Viking Park, Wests v Royals at Jamison, Gungahlin Eagles v Queanbeyan Whites at Gungahlin Enclosed. All games at 3.05pm.
