Rob Valetini uses Brumbies for Wallabies 2020 launching pad

The powerfully-built 21-year-old returned to ACT Brumbies training last week and will be a key figure in a new-look back row for the Super Rugby season next year.

He made his Test debut this year, making a cameo appearance against Samoa but missing out on a spot in Australia's World Cup squad.

New Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has taken the reins and Valetini has the next seven months to impress to force his way back into a gold jersey.

"I want to lay the foundation for next year, we've only got 70-odd days until our first game of the season," Valetini said.

"Hopefully I can get in as much work as I can to help me to push my case forward for Wallabies and for Super Rugby duties.

"I'm excited for it. There's a lot of work we need to do, both as a team and individually and everything we're doing now will help."

The Brumbies are hoping Valetini can rise to a new level next year, particularly after the loss of superstar flanker David Pocock.

Valetini managed to get through 10 games this season, but he missed 10 weeks of action after suffering his third knee injury in a year.

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Cheika earmarked him as a future Wallaby before he had even played a Super Rugby game, and took him on the spring tour last year as a development player despite having just 165 minutes of experience to his name.

His Wallabies excursion meant he missed the bulk of the Brumbies' pre-season, but he will be a leader for coach Dan McKellar over the next five weeks.

Pocock's departure has left a hole in the back row, but the Brumbies still boast plenty of Super Rugby experience.

Valetini, Tom Cusack, Pete Samu, Lachlan McCaffrey, Will Miller and Jahrome Brown will compete for the starting spots, while Murray Douglas can also offer coverage for blindside flanker.

"It's always exciting at this time of year to see guys who we've seen come through and how they handle the step up," McKellar said.

Samu and Joe Powell will rejoin the squad in the coming weeks after being called into the Barbarians side for matches in Europe and South America.

Samu, Powell and Tom Banks were cut from the Wallabies squad at the final selection round before the World Cup and McKellar expects that to spur them on next year.

"Those boys are competitive and pretty motivated. They've had to deal with a bit of selection disappointment, but that's part of it. You can't kick cans, you've got to get on with it," McKellar said.

"You have to understand why you weren't [selected] and then work harder to get better at it."