Drew Mitchell and Wycliff Palu determined to make the most of the Wallabies' Spring Tour Unknown: Drew Mitchell set to leave everything on Spring Tour. Picture: Ross Setford. DREW Mitchell concedes that every game he now plays could be the last of his career. Wycliff Palu has spent so much time on the sidelines during these past three years he can't remember where the time has gone. They are two unlikely Wallaby tourists who are determined to play every minute as if it is their last. Such is the unique nature of Mitchell's ankle injury, he is essentially running without the support of a key ligament and has no idea when it may buckle again. "In one way it can sound pretty dire but it's also pretty good motivation to get out there and make the most of it," Mitchell said. You hear all the older guys who spoke (at the John Eales medal), guys like Tony Shaw, who say 'You're a long time retired'. It's only a short time we get to wear this jersey, and I've had a couple of things to reinforce that fact, you never know which time will be the last time you get to pull that jersey on. Palu, like Mitchell, returned earlier than expected from his shoulder injury against the All Blacks two weeks ago. "It's been very frustrating, you don't really realise, these last three years have flown by," Palu said. You look back and realise all the Test matches you missed. I didn't realise it was the first time I played the All Blacks (three weeks ago) in three years. It shows you how little time you've got in the jersey. I'm just trying to enjoy everything, the build-up, the guys around you, I just don't take it for granted anymore. Mitchell was told his career was likely over after he re-injured his ankle in the second Bledisloe Test but has defied medical expertise. "I was told that (retirement) was the pretty likely option but (Nathan Sharpe) mentioned that you don't want to finish unless it's on your own terms," he said. I still felt as though I perhaps wasn't done, I wanted to explore every option that I could. Although they said it was a possibility because it was a unique situation, I wasn't prepared to accept that. I understand where I'm at now, I understand the possibility of it re-injuring at some point - I've come to terms with that. I'm going to go out there and play as hard and as confidently as I can. France v Australia Saturday 10 November, Paris England v Australia Saturday 17 November, London Italy v Australia Saturday 24 November, Florence Wales v Wallabies Saturday 1 December, Cardiff