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London - Melbourne Rebels flyhalf Danny Cipriani hopes to miss the opening month of the Super Rugby season because of international duties.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald website, England's Six Nations squad is due to be announced this week and the headline magnet has a clause in his contract that frees him for national team duties.
With Jonny Wilkinson retiring from international duties and Toby Flood's knee injury ruling him out of the early part of the Six Nations, Cipriani's chances of an international recall have been boosted.
And he continues to publicly court interim England coach Stuart Lancaster.
"I'm optimistic of getting another chance to play for England and I won't give up hoping, but I know there are no guarantees for anyone," he told the Sunday Express.
"I've got a long-term goal now to be in the England squad for 2012 and to be first-choice No 10.
"In the past it was probably easier not to pick me.
"I'm working now to make sure I front up in those areas."
Cipriani expressed similar sentiments in late November before playing for a badly-beaten Barbarians side against Australia at Twickenham.
The Six Nations run from February 4 to March 17.
"I've worked with Stuart Lancaster before and I've got a lot of respect for him," Cipriani said.
"I'm encouraged that he's said that players who were previously overlooked or on the fringes are now going to be considered to play for England.
"I'm not saying that I am definitely going to be picked but from my point of view I've never been fitter or trained harder and I've never wanted it (international rugby) more."
According to the Sydney Morning Herald website, England's Six Nations squad is due to be announced this week and the headline magnet has a clause in his contract that frees him for national team duties.
With Jonny Wilkinson retiring from international duties and Toby Flood's knee injury ruling him out of the early part of the Six Nations, Cipriani's chances of an international recall have been boosted.
And he continues to publicly court interim England coach Stuart Lancaster.
"I'm optimistic of getting another chance to play for England and I won't give up hoping, but I know there are no guarantees for anyone," he told the Sunday Express.
"I've got a long-term goal now to be in the England squad for 2012 and to be first-choice No 10.
"In the past it was probably easier not to pick me.
"I'm working now to make sure I front up in those areas."
Cipriani expressed similar sentiments in late November before playing for a badly-beaten Barbarians side against Australia at Twickenham.
The Six Nations run from February 4 to March 17.
"I've worked with Stuart Lancaster before and I've got a lot of respect for him," Cipriani said.
"I'm encouraged that he's said that players who were previously overlooked or on the fringes are now going to be considered to play for England.
"I'm not saying that I am definitely going to be picked but from my point of view I've never been fitter or trained harder and I've never wanted it (international rugby) more."
