Mack Hansen is targeting a place in Andy Farrell's Lions squad, inspired by memories of a famous win for the Brumbies in 2013.
Ireland wing Hansen grew up in Canberra and played for the Brumbies before moving to Connacht in 2021.
The Lions take on Joe Schmidt's Wallabies this summer and last toured Australia in 2013, winning the series 2-1, with Warren Gatland leaving out Brian O’Driscoll from the final Test an enduring memory for Ireland fans.
But the tourists, with Ireland players Rob Kearney, Sean O’Brien, Rory Best, Conor Murray and Simon Zebo in the squad, lost to the Brumbies, 14-12, along the way.
Hansen missed the Guinness Six Nations win over Scotland on Sunday with a hamstring issue but the Ireland management said he, along with Tadhg Furlong (calf) and Joe McCarthy (head) were making "good progress" and were "optimistic about their availability" to face Wales in round three on 22 February.
The Australia-born back has been a revelation since moving overseas.
Already Ireland-qualified via his Cork-born mother, he made his international debut in 2022 and has gone on to score 12 tries in 26 appearances.
The 26-year-old missed the second half of last season with a shoulder injury.
Ireland remain on course to retain their title after back-to-back wins and Hansen revealed another incentive to get back to his best.
"Oh yeah, anyone that is available for it would be lying if they didn't say that's sort of the pinnacle of rugby really, to get on that tour," he told the KOKO podcast.
"I still remember the game they played us, at Brums, where the Brumbies actually beat them. That whole tour made me realise there is a whole other world to rugby.
"Obviously, you don't really see much of the Six Nations growing up.
"I still remember those days and watching those games so to be involved in that would be an absolute dream come true."
Hansen (above) faces competition to get in as an outside-back pick with team-mates James Lowe and Hugo Keenan among those in contention.
"Surely, they'd take me just so I can show the boys where to go, at least the Canberra week," he joked.
Ireland next face Wales, on a 14-game losing streak, who today parted company with Gatland, while Hansen reckons the round-four match against second-place France will be their toughest assignment.
"Scotland away is always hard but I still think France at home," he said.
"They've just got some absolute freakshows in their team and they seem to find new ones as well.
"When you hear of [Damian] Penaud being out, a lot of teams would be under pressure and then they bring in [Theo Attissogbe], pretty seamless.
"They've got people who can finish from anywhere and getting [Antoine] Dupont back is a massive help for them, the way they want to play."
Hansen also addressed his three-match ban for his outburst about officials following Connacht’s URC defeat to Leinster at Christmas.
He apologised to referee Chris Busby and was ordered to undertake "an appropriate course related to match officiating".
He said: "Yeah, em, choose my words on this one.
"We were playing Leinster and we were given no chance all week.
"We actually got quite close to beating them and I came off the ground fuming, absolutely fuming and, look, let my emotions get the best of me and I've learnt my lesson."
Watch Munster v Scarlets in the URC on Saturday from 4.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
