BY PETER FITZGERALD
RUGBY UNION
2/01/2009 1:00:00 AM

Gene Fairbanks is medically in the clear but faces a battle to force his way into the ACT Brumbies' starting XV this season.

The 26-year-old will resume light contact work when the Brumbies return to training on Monday after medical staff deemed his injured neck was ready for physical pressure.

Fairbanks missed the majority of the 2008 Super 14 season after crushing a nerve in his neck in the Brumbies' round one loss to the Canterbury Crusaders.

But while Fairbanks has overcome his injury hurdle, he now faces the realistic prospect of missing out on a run-on spot for the coming season.

Fairbanks is a specialist inside-centre who can also provide cover as a back-up flyhalf.

Competition for the No12 jersey this season will be the most intense of any position.

Fairbanks started at inside-centre in round one last year before being injured. He also played there for the majority of 2007 after Matt Giteau vacated it at the end of 2006.

But this season he is far from guaranteed the position.

Skipper Stirling Mortlock played part of the Wallabies European Tour at inside-centre and the Brumbies coaching staff are strongly considering keeping him at 12, freeing the 13 jersey for Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Also, Tyrone Smith, who won last year's Australian Rookie of the Year award, proved in his debut season he was more than up to the challenge. Even Ashley-Cooper could play inside-centre.

Fairbanks didn't talk to new coach Andy Friend prior to the team's Christmas break about the positional dilemma, but accepted he had a fight on his hands....

the rest here...http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...px?storypage=1