Western Force favourite Scott Staniforth has admitted pushing himself too hard to come back from a knee injury could have cost him a chance to play in this year's Tri Nations tournament.
Staniforth was a national hero this time last year, after streaking under the posts to score the decisive try in the opening Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand in Melbourne.
But 12 months on, the former Force vice-captain is looking forward to no more than turning out for club side Nedlands next weekend, his first run since a knee injury forced him out of the Force side for the last two games of the year.
Arthroscopic surgery on the left knee back in May revealed a microscopic cartilage tear Staniforth had started the season with had opened to 15mm.
The minute damage has frustrated Staniforth since, ruling him out of the early Tests against Ireland and France, and making his Tri-Nations chances outside at best.
With Robbie Deans due to announce his squad on Monday, Staniforth knows he is running out of time to press his claims.
"With the Australia A stuff pretty much all over this weekend ... I pushed it quite hard early on to try and get back for that," Staniforth said
"I was rushing to try and get back a couple of weeks ago and a little bit to my detriment have had to wait another couple of weeks.
"It has been a little bit slower than I would have hoped. I was going to play this weekend but just to be cautious I will probably give it a rest."
With Force teammates Matt Giteau, Nathan Sharpe, Cameron Shepherd and Ryan Cross involved in Deans' first outings as Wallaby coach, Staniforth says he is unsure about his international future because of the ill-timed injury.
"I am not really sure at all, I have not had any feedback about where I am at, but a new coach has different perceptions," Staniforth told WAtoday.com.au.
"I can't expect to be picked if I am not playing, but it is always nice to be in the mix.
"The knee will be right come Tri-Nations if selected otherwise I will be with the Force on the UK tour."
The five-week development tour of the UK in August and September will see the Force play six matched against four top-flight English Guinness Premiership teams and two regional academy sides.
A 28-man squad, to be announced later this month, will depart Perth on July 31 and will open the six-match program against Jonny Wilkinson's Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park on August 8.
After a mid-week clash with the Saracens Academy, the team will collide with the Eddie Jones-led Saracens at Old Albanians before a hit out against the Northampton Academy team.
The tour will then climax with matches against recently promoted English League One champions Northampton Saints and 2007/08 Guinness Premiership Finalists Leicester Tigers.
The touring party will arrive back in Perth on September 3.
"It is going to be quite a tough tour, it is great for us for the Force to put on something like that. I suppose we don't have much top class football now the ARC has been canned," Staniforth said.
"It is very important not only for myself but for some of the younger players to push for selection in S14. Last year guys like James Stannard and Tom Hockings really pushed their cause in the ARC and that is going to be the case on this European tour."
