George Smith aims to bow out with Super Rugby final glory but leaves Brumbies door slightly open

ON the eve of his last Brumbies game, George Smith has conceded he may return to the franchise under extreme circumstances.

ON the eve of what has been billed as his last game for the Brumbies, illustrious flanker George Smith has conceded he may return to the franchise under extreme circumstances.

However unlikely as it may be, Smith's refusal to definitively declare Saturday night's Super Rugby final against the Chiefs his last match in Brumbies colours will have fans rejoicing in excitement.

"If I was to come back, it would be under the circumstance of all six of the backrowers getting injured and then me answering an SOS," Smith said.

"Look, I'm not getting any younger. I am playing decent quality football at the moment, so that's why I say it."

That will be good enough for all Australian rugby fans, who have marvelled at Smith's sublime form this season in his return to the country at 33 years.

"With me believing it is my last game here, it would be a good opportunity for me to leave on a good note, leaving Australia, and Super Rugby, with a title," Smith said.

But even Brumbies coach Jake White, who lured Smith from Japan for this presumed one-off stint, joked about trying to get the imperious openside to return in 2014.

"I'm surprised he said it was his last game, I was still going to talk to him about it next week, so he's obviously caught me unaware," White laughed, before turning serious.

"I've coached against him, I've coached George now, he's got to be one of the greatest players."

Smith, who will return to his Japanese club Suntory next week, will be the most influential man on the field at Waikato Stadium on Saturday night.

If he replicates his outstanding performance from last weekend's semi-final against the Bulls, the Brumbies will be well-placed to pull off a huge upset.

"To go out with a final would be magnificent," Smith said.

"I'd love that to be the way I end my career with the Brumbies.

Smith had worried upon his return that he may harm his tremendous legacy from his previous stint at the club.

"I definitely don't think I've harmed it in any way," he said.

"It was a thing I was tossing up when I did decide to come back to the ACT Brumbies, I think I've played well enough, I'm very happy with how I've played throughout the season.

"In terms of me leaving a good legacy within the Brumbies organisation, I think I have."

It isn't as though Smith was a born winner.

By his own admission, there were repetitive backyard defeats to his brothers in his childhood years.

"I used to lose a lot, I had six brothers, two older brothers who used to beat me in everything, and even my younger brothers as well," Smith said on Friday.

"We were a competitive family, we enjoyed playing sport on the weekends.

"I have been part of a lot of winning teams in my childhood, whether it be league with the North Curl Curl Knights, or rugby union with the Warringah Roos.

"I've always had a winning attitude. I've had some great moments, winning some great championships, but I'd love to win tomorrow night."

White has no doubt about the qualities of the champion No.7.

"At 33, if he's man of the match in a semi-final, when it really counts for the Brumbies, in Pretoria in a big game like that, I think that epitomises what George is really like," White said.

"You can't ask for more than that."

Except, just maybe, one more year?