Former Wallaby centre Pat Howard is leaving his post as player-coach at England`s high flying Leicester to try to revive his Australian Test career.
Howard, 27, has stunned English rugby circles with the announcement, coming with Leicester in striking distance of a glorious treble -- the premiership, the European Cup and the play-off championship.
"If I could play for Leicester and play for Australia, then I`d stay," said Howard, a hot favourite to win England`s player-of-the-year award.
"I took a different slide on things by coming here when I did. I`ve had an exceptional time of it but now it`s time to see how other things stand.
"I know what I`m like as a player in the English Premiership, but I need to know if I can cut it back home. That`s all."
Howard indicated that the retirement last season of Tim Horan -- now with English rivals Saracens -- had opened up a chance for him that was not there amongst Rod Macqueen`s 1999 World Cup champions, a fact which causes him no grief.
"Look at who was in the midfield: Tim Horan at centre and Stephen Larkham at fly-half. Those are the two positions I play and they were the best two players in the tournament. No, I`m pretty relaxed about missing out on that one," he said.
Howard, who won the first of his 20 Test caps at 19, said he had no contract -- or even offers -- to go to in Australia.
But the former Queensland and ACT player said he was aiming to play in next year`s Super 12 series.
"There`s nothing there yet. I want time to do some travelling with my wife, Bess, chill out a bit because I`ve been at it non-stop almost since arriving here in 1998," he told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
"My aim is next season`s Super 12. That`s where you make an impression."
For now Howard, who has played in 32 of Leicester`s 34 matches this season, has a more immediate goal -- his club`s European Cup semi-final on Saturday against Jason Little`s Gloucester. (AAP)