Now that he has settled on his future with Parramatta, star winger Eric Grothe has set himself the challenge of breaking back into the Australian team before the end of this year and getting the inside running for a shot at the 2008 World Cup.

"That would be awesome, to play in the World Cup," Grothe said yesterday. "And if you can finish this year in the Australian team, it should give you a bit of a leg up for next year."

Grothe has represented Australia in one Test - against France in 2005 - and was a part of Australia's squad for the Tri-Nations tournament against New Zealand and Great Britain at the time. But he was not selected for any of the Tests against the Kiwis and the Poms and is keen to complete his CV by playing against Australia's two greatest rivals.

"I was proud to play for Australia against France and it sure felt like a Test," he said. "It was still our country against another country and it's an honour to play for Australia under any circumstances.

"But, taking nothing away from France, I want to wear the green and gold against New Zealand and Great Britain, so I can say I've played against all three. Next year would give me the chance to make it all three, if I got into the squad for the World Cup."

Grothe, who played all three State of Origin games for NSW last year but did not make the Kangaroos squad for the end-of-season Tri-Nations, doesn't give himself any chance of playing in next month's Test against New Zealand.

He hasn't played in a premiership game this season because of an ankle injury and though he has been named to resume for Parramatta against Wests Tigers at Parramatta Stadium tonight, he is set to withdraw from that game (see Late Mail, right).

Including this round, there are only three more rounds before the Test team for the game, at Suncorp Stadium on April 20, is picked. Grothe is instead aiming at the end-of-season Test against the Kiwis on October 14 in Wellington.

It took a while for Grothe to make a decision on his future. There was interest from rugby union and while the Eels had offered him a two-year deal, he was keen on three years.

But when the Australian Rugby Union announced last week that it would not be making Grothe an offer, and then Parramatta increased their offer to three years, it made the picture a lot clearer. Grothe will make it official by signing the contract today.

"I don't know what happened with union," he said. "I met with [Wallaby coach] John Connolly and that seemed to go well, but then I heard the ARU wasn't making an offer.

"I thought it was a bit weird, but, fair enough, if that's how they felt. It's up to them. Then there was interest from the Waratahs, but it looked like it was going to take too long for anything to happen.

"I'm very happy to stick with Parramatta for another three years. I'll be 30 by then. I don't know if I'll keep playing after that. I wanted to feel secure financially, and I got a little bit of an increase from Parramatta, so it's all good."