Christian Lealiifano

The inspirational Brumbies captain opened up on Tuesday about his rugby comeback, the people who inspired him to beat cancer and his hunger to win a Super Rugby championship.

It was an emotional 30-minute press conference and he hopes others fighting the blood cancer can use his story to find strength in their journey.

Lealiifano is in remission after being diagnosed with leukaemia in August last year, but doctors have told him to keep fighting for at least two years.

"One thing they never guarantee is the cancer won't come back," Lealiifano said.

The Canberra playmaker has inspired all of his teammates, and his return off the bench in Friday night’s quarter-final will be a timely boost.

The 29-year-old’s journey, though, has not gone over the heads of their quarter-final opponents, with the popular flyhalf’s comeback watched by so many in rugby.

Hurricanes skipper TJ Perenara remembers when the news filtered through almost this time last year, when the Wellington side was preparing for what would ultimately be their first Super Rugby championship.

Lealiifano will be the the ACT Brumbies' bench weapon in his first game since being diagnosed with leukaemia 11 months ago, as he lines up in the Super Rugby quarterfinal showdown at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.

His journey back to the field has touched players around the world, with livewire Hurricanes fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder saying it was "bloody inspiring" to see Lealiifano back on the field.

Lealiifano, who has been out of Super Rugby since being diagnosed with leukaemia ten months ago, had originally made his return in Brumbies colours during the team's Austbrokers Cup win over the Asia Pacific Dragons in Singapore in June and will be on the bench for the knockout tie.

"I had some really dark days where things got tough and all those negative thoughts come into your mind, the 'why me' and 'should I just give up' type stuff, but to be able to come out the other side of that has been quite an amazing thing," he said.

"It's an absolute blessing to be able to do what we do for a living so I appreciate that more now and life in general."

He says he will spend this season doing some part-time coaching work with the Brumbies, but wants to add to his 117 Super Rugby caps and 19 Tests.

The Laughing Samoans Facebook page said Tofiga of course had to rib him about the Wallabies loss referring to the 42-8 thrashing received at the hands of the All Blacks.

Christian was reportedly touched by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen wishing him well before the test on Saturday night.

RNZ reports his Super Rugby club, the ACT Brumbies, announced today that Lealiifano is currently being treated in hospital.

The 28-year-old was a notable absentee from the Wallabies squad for the Rugby Championship named yesterday.

The Australian Rugby Union said it would do whatever it could to support him.

"We were shocked to receive the news of Christian's diagnosis yesterday and our thoughts are firmly with him as he begins his treatment," said chief executive, Bill Pulver.