"I was desperately disappointed to miss out on the Six Nations, as I think anyone would be, and now I'm desperate to tour Australia," he said.

England are scheduled to play two Tests against Australia in June and head coach Andy Robinson has already indicated rest and recuperation of his senior players will be the over-riding priority at the selection meetings.

Barkley offers Robinson options at fly-half should Charlie Hodgson be granted a summer off, but particularly at inside centre where Mike Tindall has struggled for England this season.

"I'm still undecided as to where my best position or even preferred position is but as a 10 and a 12 it is up to the coaches to let me know their thoughts and for a decision to be made," said Barkley.

"I've been moved from one position to another quite a lot for whatever reason and, while I'm happy to help the team out wherever I can, it is nice to get a bit of momentum in one position."

Barkley is not alone in eyeing England tour as the chance to lay down markers ahead of the Rugby World Cup defence in France next year - Tom Voyce is determined to prove to Robinson he is the man for the big occasion.

The Wasps flyer made his Test debut on the tour of New Zealand and Australia in 2004 - when England were thrashed in all three Tests - but became a regular in the Test squad only during this year's Six Nations.

With most of his Test rugby coming at fullback, Voyce has had to answer tough questions over his size and his strength in defence.

After scoring three tries in his last four appearances for England, Voyce is determined to head back down under and prove he is a man for the big occasion.
"There might be some changes after the Six Nations, and I don't want to be one of them," said Voyce, who scored two tries to help Wasps win the Powergen Cup final at the weekend.

"I want to keep the pressure on and keep proving to myself, the coaches and the public that I am desperate to go down to Australia and show my worth."

England are scheduled to play two Tests against the Wallabies in June, and Robinson has already indicated that rest and recuperation of his senior players will be the over-riding priority at the selection meetings.

Voyce may have won just eight Test caps - but with England's Lions tourists set to stay home, he is ready to take on the leadership responsibilities of being a senior figure in the squad.

It is a role Voyce has been working on at club level - where he has won three Guinness Premiership titles, the Heineken Cup and the Powergen Cup.

"I am becoming a senior player now, so I've got to start stepping up and leading instead of being led by others - I've got to now be a big-game player," he said.