Wednesday 20 April 2016 15:27, UK
Mike Brown believes he is yet to hit his peak and can still number among the game's premier full-backs at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The 30-year-old will aim to drive Harlequins into a second European Challenge Cup final in five years on Friday night when Conor O'Shea's men face Grenoble at the Stoop.
Quins boss O'Shea will leave Twickenham for Italy's head coaching post this summer, with his charges keen to cap the rugby director's tenure with European silverware.
Brown faces continued pressure from Saracens' Alex Goode for his England shirt but reckons he can continue to thrive in the Test arena - right up to the next World Cup in Japan.
"The competition's in my head. If I keep pushing myself, I believe I can be one of the best players in the world in my position," said Brown.
"I believe that, and you have to have that confidence and belief if you want to play and thrive at the top level.
"I work hard every day on the training field, hard on what Eddie [Jones, England head coach] wants me to do and what the Quins coaches want me to do.
"I do feel over the next four years I've got so much more to give and learn, and to progress. You've got to keep believing you can get better and I do honestly believe that.
I've always had that goal to play in Australia, for England or whoever, so I'd love to do that.
"I've only realistically played international rugby consistently for four years, and only under three coaches.
"Eddie's come in now, it's a new perspective. The guy's been around for so many years and has worked with so many great players it's exciting to see what we can continue to learn from him.
"It's exciting to think I've got so much more to come before I hit my peak."
Harlequins lifted the Challenge Cup in 2011 with a 19-18 victory over Stade Francais in Cardiff and will hope to contest another final this term.
But O'Shea's men must first see off Bernard Jackman's in-form Grenoble, who toppled PRO12 high-fliers Connacht 33-32 in the quarter-finals and should offer Quins a stern examination.
While Brown was integral to England's Six Nations Grand Slam charge, he admits he must produce a strong finish to the campaign with Quins to cement his selection for June's three-Test tour of Australia.
England boss Jones will not shy away from remoulding his side, leaving Brown accepting no one can rest on their laurels and expect to command a seat on the plane.
"Eddie wants competition in every position, he wants it three or four players deep," he said. "That can only be a plus for England. If we want to win the World Cup we'll need that.
"Teams like New Zealand, when they've lost players through seasons or tournaments, the next guy comes in and is equally as good. They don't miss out on anything.
"So we need to strive to have that as well, and that means each and every one of us need to keep working hard on our game.
"Hopefully we can keep honing that and bring out some flowing rugby on the hard tracks in Australia. We're all desperate to be on that tour.
"I've always had that goal to play in Australia, for England or whoever, so I'd love to do that.
"But there's plenty of Quins business first and I will really need to play well if I want to get picked."
