White experienced the life as a Wallaby in 2013 and will continue to push for the starting No.9 jersey © Getty Images

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After pulling on the Wallabies jersey for two Test starts in 2013, ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is convinced that Nic White now has a greater desire to become the best halfback in the world, and Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie urges White to continue to challenge incumbent Wallabies halfback Will Genia for his spot this year.

White is one of three Brumbies players set to be upgraded to full Wallabies contracts for the 2015 season, along with Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano. This trio, along with Scott Sio, Jesse Mogg and Scott Fardy, form the Brumbies' six Wallabies off contract at the end of this year.

McKenzie had the chance to watch White continue to push his claims for another Wallabies starting cap on Monday while he tours the Australian Super Rugby teams. White will get a second chance to prove himself when the Brumbies take on the Queensland Reds in their opening round of their 2014 campaign on February 22, where he will get to go head to head with Genia.

White has 10 Test caps, including two starts when McKenzie brought him into the starting line-up to play Argentina and South Africa at the expense of Genia. But Genia returned to the No.9 jersey and started every Test for the rest of the year.

Larkham believed that taste had made White desperate to win that starting halfback role back and said the 23-year-old had hit the ground running at Brumbies training with great passion and enthusiasm.

''He's very passionate about playing for Australia,'' Larkham told Rugby Heaven. ''He had a couple of opportunities last year, he would've certainly liked a few more opportunities and Will was in and out of favour, in and out of form and Whitey had his chance. Whitey certainly sees himself as a contender for Will's spot.

"They're going to be to-ing and fro-ing right up until the World Cup. It's going to be a little battle between the two of them. He's certainly got the talent, he's the skills, he's got the vision, he's got the fitness, he's got everything in his game that can put him as the No.1 halfback in the world.''

McKenzie spent time discussing the Wallabies in Canberra and his vision for the future with Larkham and Brumbies director of rugby Laurie Fischer. He said that White had proven himself on an international level last year and should fight for the No.9 jersey to ensure the continued improvement of the Wallabies squad.

''I think he's still growing at this level, he's only been at it a couple of years,'' McKenzie said. ''He's been hampered by his shoulders a little bit, but he's looking fit. He already started Tests in the last cycle. He's very valid and very effective at the Test level. I don't want to run a program with only one player in a position, you need to have two and ideally you want three or four players jockeying and keeping the pressure on.''

White admitted that the next Wallabies Test - against France in June - were too far away to worry about, and will keep focused on his first test against Genia during the season opener. Although White contemplated a move to France last year before extending his contract until the end of 2014, he was confident the success the Brumbies were building towards would not only keep him in Canberra, but many of his teammates as well.

''I'm just looking forward to getting out and playing round one and no better opportunity than playing against Will and Quade (Cooper),'' White said. ''If I play some good footy then I'm sure that (contract) stuff will sort itself out off the field. That's the plan, get back to playing footy … and down here there's no better place at the moment.''