Kangaroos hooker Cameron Smith has set his sights on captaining Australia at the 2013 World Cup - and he wants coach Tim Sheens by his side.
Smith arrived back in Sydney on Tuesday following Australia's successful Four Nations campaign and immediately declared his interest in the captaincy, left vacant after Darren Lockyer's retirement.
The Kangaroos play just two Tests in 2012 before launching their campaign to recapture the World Cup crown from the Kiwis in England the following year.
"I'd definitely put my hand up to be captain of the Kangaroos," Smith said at Sydney Airport.
"It's a job that's filled with tradition and there's a lot of great players that have captained the Kangaroos."
"There are lot of candidates in that team that could fill that role."
"There's quite a few club captains playing in the Australian side at the moment."
One of those is Paul Gallen, whose form for club, state and country this year has been phenomenal.
Smith acknowledges the Sharks strongman will be his greatest challenger.
"Paul Gallen's a great leader. He has been for Cronulla and was this year for NSW," Smith said.
"But the decision on who's going to be the next Australian captain is out of my control."
"It's really up to the coach and selectors to who they feel is the best man for the job."
Smith believes Sheens should be that coach despite the Kangaroos mentor refusing to confirm whether he wants to stay in the job.
"I don't see why he shouldn't (stay on)," Smith said.
"He's only lost one game the whole time he's been part of our team."
"He does a great job and all the boys are really happy with the way the camp went."
Sheens was reluctant to buy into the captaincy issue but pledged his support for Smith.
"It's one of those things that the ARL or the new commission will make a decision (on)," Sheens said.
"If they ask me (Smith) would certainly be one of my recommendations."
"There's a number of good players there that could be captain."