Charlie Cale feels he's got to earn the respect of the ACT Brumbies before even thinking about putting on a Wallabies jersey again.
Cale missed all of last year's Super Rugby Pacific season because of back stress fractures, and last Saturday returned to the competition against the Western Force.
It couldn't have gone better for the back-rower as he crossed for two tries and made over 20 tackles in their 56-24 victory.
The performance grabbed the attention of pundits and thrust the two-time Wallaby back into the conversation for a potential recall.
"Everyone's got a focus in the future of getting back in (to the Wallabies), but for myself, especially being injured for the last 12 months, I've got to earn a bit of respect back for the organisation I let down," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"I probably made that mistake of thinking about the future in the past and worrying about what people think of you.
"But in 90 per cent of this game, you don't have a lot of control over what goes on."
Cale and the Brumbies now turn their attention to the 2004 grand final rematch against the Crusaders, whom they have only beaten once in 14 encounters, on Sunday afternoon.
But Cale believes his side can overcome their Christchurch-based opponents, having beaten the Blues 21-20 in 2025 and other Kiwi teams across the Tasman.
"We beat the Blues last year at Eden Park, which is probably the biggest game we've won in the last couple of years. So we've done it before, and we can do it again," he said.
"That win gave us a lot of confidence. If we are to beat the Crusaders at their home ground, that would do the same.
"Anytime we're versus any New Zealand team, especially the Crusaders, it's going to be a big game."
The Brumbies were without star lock Nick Frost against the Force after coach Stephen Larkham decided to rest him, but Cale says he's tracking well ahead of the team announcement on Wednesday.
"He's (Frost) had a massive year. He played a lot of games for the Wallabies," Cale said.
"It's good for him to get a bit of a rest here and there."
