MONTPELLIER, France - As if holding the key to a Wallabies' rugby World Cup triumph isn't enough pressure, Stephen Larkham admits he faces mounting stress because of uncertainty over his playing future.
The veteran five-eighth is preparing to draw the curtain on his stellar 101-test international career atthe World Cup still unsure where he and his family will be based afterwards.
Larkham's lucrative contract to join Edinburgh has all but been dissolved after the Scottish Rugby Union took over the cash-strapped club last month.
The SRU have informally told Larkham they can't afford to stick to the original deal and the matter is now in the hands of lawyers.
The 33-year-old playmaker can command interest from any club on the globe but he is racing time to secure a new home for his Canberra-based family.
Larkham admitted he and his wife were extremely concerned as they were planning to shift house to Scotland on November 1, less than a fortnight after the World Cup final.
Wallabies coaches John Connolly and Scott Johnson are attempting to keep a lid on the worries as Larkham must fire if Australia are to contend for third World Cup crown in France.
"It's a fair bit to carry into the tournament," Larkham admitted.
"More so carrying it into the quarterfinals and semifinals and that's when it will become difficult.
"Not only because they will be high-pressure games but the time period, the World Cup will finish in two or three weeks (before the planned move).
"The coaching staff is keeping a bit of an eye on me to make sure I'm not too distracted by what's happening off the field."
Larkham was yet to look at contingencies but indicated the time was drawing near when he and his manager had to assess other options.
"It's a big thing for us," he said.
"We've never moved out of Canberra.
"To move out of Canberra for that extended period is quite a big move for the family so there's a fair bit of stress back home about what's happening."
On a positive front, Larkham believes the knee he injured at the start of the Tri-Nations was almost back to full strength despite it "taking a pounding" on the hard Stade Yves-du-Manoir training surface at Montpellier.
"Each day it seems to be getting and better," he said.
