His trademark lingo was lost in translation in Japan, but Nick Cummins has returned home with a crystal clear message – he wants in at the Wallabies.

Cummins is back in the World Cup mix after being loaned back to the Western Force by his Japanese outfit Red Sparks.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is an admirer.

But the 15-Test winger knows he can’t just waltz back into the squad.

“It’s not one of those things that you can just call up and get back into the mix,” Cummins said on Monday.

“It all comes down to performance. You have to do your speaking on the field.”

With trademark quotes such as: “The boys were on it like seagulls at a tip”, and: “I was like a rat up a drainpipe in one of them runs there”, it’s little wonder that Japanese journalists found Cummins hard to understand.

But the funniest moment came when a Japanese rugby magazine produced a picture spread where they referred to Cummins as the “honey budger” instead of his actual honey badger nickname.

“There were all kinds of names getting thrown about,” Cummins said with a laugh.

“Sometimes it can be difficult when you’re talking to a journo after the game saying, ‘Yeah mate, I was on the burst’.

“And then the translator is trying to translate that into Japanese, and apparently there is no actual translation.

“There were a few odd pauses and frustrations, but we got through most of it.”

Cummins, who arrived back in Perth on Saturday, hasn’t played since undergoing an arthroscope to remove floating bone pieces in his left ankle last month.

But the fan favourite is still holding out hope he will be passed fit to return in Friday night’s Super clash with the Hurricanes in Perth.

A return against the Brumbies in Canberra next week appears more likely.

“I had a bit of a clean up on her. Now she’s starting to fire again, but I might need a few days,” Cummins said of his ankle.

The Hurricanes are flying high following wins over the Lions and Bulls, while the Force followed up their trouncing of the Waratahs with a disappointing 18-6 loss to the Reds.

Prop Pek Cowan is a chance to return from a neck injury, but fellow front rower Francois van Wyk (torn pectoral) is out for the season, while flanker Chris Alcock (ankle) is expected to miss several weeks.