The Waratahs will likely be missing their highest-profile stars, but winger Cam Clark says there'll be plenty at stake at the Brisbane Tens this weekend.
It’s unlikely the Waratahs will take many of their capped Wallabies, outside of tournament ambassador Kurtley Beale, when they announce their squad.
That’s an approach many of the Australian teams take, with the competition a testing ground for some newer faces, but that doesn’t mean they’re taking it all that lightly, Clark said.
“You obviously can't play the game you'd like to play coming into the Super Rugby season but there's plenty of things you can mark yourselves on - the effort-related things, another opportunity to get some match fitness and things like that, so I mean you always go there to compete,” he said.
“The Kiwi teams are there to win as well.
“We're there to win the thing and take it very seriously. I'm not sure in terms of the way we're going to play, (though). We haven't spoken too much about it, because we just did the review of the trial last week.”
Clark will play his first matches since last August when he suits up at the Tens, after having off-season shoulder surgery.
As far as outside backs go, a Tens tournament could be the perfect place for Clark to press his claims with plenty of players jostling for outside backs spots.
Clark missed last year’s Tens with injury but said it would be a valuable opportunity for him to throw himself into starting contention.
“There's a lot of outside backs throwing their hands up. It'll be interesting to see - the Tens this weekend, another opportunity to throw your hand up for round one, then the trial against the Rebels,” he said.
“Hopefully just get a few nice touches and put my best foot forward and hopefully I'm in the mix to get selected.”
The Waratahs take on the Chiefs, Highlanders and French Top 14 side Pau in their pool games in Brisbane.
The Brisbane Tens kicks off on February 9, running until Saturday February 10, Buy tickets here.
