'I need to impress': Nic White sparks Joe Powell's 2020 Brumbies motivation

Powell will be the most experienced player in the Brumbies' halves next year and he has taken on leadership responsibilities to start the club's pre-season block.

But White's deal to return to Canberra from the end of 2020 has clouded Powell's long-term future, with overseas clubs likely to make a play for the four-Test Wallaby.

The ideal scenario would be keeping White and Powell together, but both are considered players capable of completing 80 minutes of work and salary-cap constraints would also become a factor.

Powell says his challenge is using the 2020 Super Rugby campaign as a way to improve his free-agent stocks if he's forced to take his career abroad or to another franchise.

"It happens every couple of years when you're not sure what your future is. I'm definitely keen to stay at the Brumbies," Powell said.

"Probably for piece of mind you'd like to get it done early. Depending how you play, it might be better to get it done later.

"Obviously you don't want it playing on your mind too much when you're going through the season, so I'm not sure when the best time is to get it done.

"Having Whitey coming gives a bit of motivation. I've really got to impress with this pre-season and in the early part of the season to see where I lie with the Brumbies in the future.

"It's good motivation - that's what I'm taking out of it at the moment."

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The Brumbies have already moved to lock in some of their key players for beyond the 2020 campaign.

Pete Samu, Allan Alaalatoa, Scott Sio, Tom Banks, Folau Faingaa and Rob Valetini have committed to long-term deals to give the club a core group of players to build around.

Powell leads the next group of players who are yet to sign contracts and the early start to Super Rugby could see negotiations drag into the regular season.

Powell was plucked from Canberra's junior ranks to be White's back up four years ago and took the scrumhalf reins, alongside Tomas Cubelli, when White moved his career to Europe.

Powell could follow the same path, but he could also be targeted by rival Australian teams, with most in need of a quality No. 9.

"That would be a tough decision because I love the Brumbies and they're the only sporting team I've ever followed. But if it's a good opportunity, you'd be silly to knock it back," Powell said.

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar will turn to Powell as a back line general next year as he ushers in a new generation of flyhalves in Reesjan Pasitoa, Noah Lolesio and Bayley Kuenzle.

The trio has the responsibility of replacing Christian Lealiifano, but none have any Super Rugby experience.

Powell has played only four times for Australia, but he has been involved in almost every Wallabies camp for the past three years and played in a Barbarians team coached by Eddie Jones last month.

"It kind of feels like I'm a bit of a leader with the younger fellas and being a bit older," Powell said. "There's so much opportunity this year, which is why there's probably been so much competition so early."

Powell's voice has been instrumental in setting the standards for the Brumbies early in the pre-season and the return of the club's World Cup contingent next week will boost preparations.

Hooker Folau Faingaa made an unexpected early return this week to start earlier than the rest of the Wallabies after getting game time in just one World Cup game.