Matthew Burke, Australia's star player at the 1999 Rugby Union World Cup, is back with the Wallabies and looking forward to his first match Saturday after a lengthy injury layoff.
Burke will be in the lineup for Australia as it takes on the Japanese President's XV at Tokyo's Chichibunomiya Stadium in a warmup for the team's European tour.
"To me, getting back on the field is the first priority and making this tour is something that comes after," Burke said Friday.
"It's important for me to play well on this tour and then remain on the field and also to be able to contribute to the overall structure of the team. I still have something that I can offer the team."
Burke, who scored 24 points against South Africa in the 1999 World Cup semifinal and 25 against France in the final, suffered an ankle injury during the National Ricoh Cup on June 2. That forced Australia's most-capped fullback to skip this year's Tri-Nations tournament, which the Wallabies won for the first time ever.
"It was difficult watching these guys," the 27-year-old admitted.
During his absence, the team was reshuffled, losing veteran centers Tim Horan and Jason Little, flanker David Wilson and prop Richard Harry to retirement. Coach Rod Macqueen recruited a few new faces and will start some other players on Saturday. Burke will play on the wing.
"I think it's very exciting for me," said Burke, who has 44 caps. "This gives me an opportunity to be involved with the Wallabies again and I'm looking forward to a new challenge."
After Saturday's match in Tokyo, Australia will leave for Europe on Sunday and play against France on Nov. 4, Scotland on Nov. 11 and England on Nov. 18.