Wallabies and NSW Waratahs centre Kurtley Beale concedes contract talks have been playing on his mind.

Beale’s current deal expires this year and he said on Monday he aimed to reach a decision on his playing future before the end of the Super Rugby season.

“It’s always going to be there (in your mind) isn’t it,” Beale said.

“As a player I think you are not going to hide and pretend it’s not there.

“You’ve just got to accept it and make sure you are doing your job for the team and that’s purely my focus.”

Beale said the Waratahs’ win over the previously-unbeaten Hurricanes on Saturday was the defending champions’ best performance of the season.

He believed it gave then confidence heading into key Australian conference derby clashes with the Melbourne Rebels and the Brumbies in the next two rounds.