As Wallabies coach Michael Cheika confirmed Mitchell was well and truly on his radar, telling Fairfax Media he had seen the 63-Test winger's stunning try for Toulon in the European Rugby Champions Cup final at the weekend, Horne said he was delighted with the emergence of a new rival.

"Competition's good for all spots, especially in a World Cup year. It brings out the best in everyone," he said.

"It was awesome to see Drew play so well and to get up again, especially that Australian contingent [Matt Giteau started at No.10], it was awesome to see.

"It was unfortunate for John Ulugia, who plays for [losing finalist] Clermont, but it's great to see Australians over there playing well and representing us."

Mitchell played his last Test for Australia under Robbie Deans in 2012, missing out on selection for the British and Irish Lions series in 2013 before joining Toulon in France's Top 14 after the Waratahs' first season under Michael Cheika.

His performances in Europe have been largely overshadowed by the decisive input of good friend and fellow former Wallaby Giteau, but a superb solo effort to deliver his team victory in the ERC Cup final at Twickenham on Saturday delivered an emphatic message to the new Wallabies coach, who can now augment his Test squad with overseas-based players with 60-plus Test caps and seven years of service in Australia.

"He did pretty well, didn't he," Cheika told Fairfax Media, confirming that Mitchell was in the frame for selection this year.

"Of course, I said at the time, the point is creating more depth. We have three more players now that you've got to be looking at."

​Horne is considered one of the frontrunners for a Wallabies wing spot in the upcoming Rugby Championship and World Cup, alongside NSW teammate Adam Ashley-Cooper and Brumbies' wingers Henry Speight and Joe Tomane.

The Western Force's Nick Cummins was a certain starter under Ewen McKenzie as little as a year ago but has struggled to hit top form in the west since returning from a season in Japan with the Red Sparks.

James O'Connor in Queensland is also in contention, but the 44-Test outside back has had his own struggles with injury and form since returning from an 18-month stint in Europe.

Mitchell's resurgence is good timing for Cheika and attack coach Stephen Larkham, who are watching form closely. They are, however, adamant they will not make firm selection calls until seeing the rest of the Super Rugby season play out.

Horne travels to Perth this week where the Waratahs face the luckless Force, who languish at the bottom of the Super Rugby ladder after a run of 10 straight losses.

A long-time Waratah, Horne is familiar with the psychology of a run as poor as the Force's.

"Footy's one of those things where, if everything's going well for you, life's very easy, and when they aren't going well for you it's very hard," he said.

"It's hard, but in saying that, I can imagine they will have circled [this weekend's fixture] and are very much looking forward to playing us at home."

The Waratahs sit in sixth spot on the Super Rugby log but have lost their past two encounters with the Michael Foley-coached Force. Horne said the West Australians would be eyeing up Saturday's game as a shot at redemption.

"Their game plan has had the edge on us the last few times we've met, so it's up to us to go out there and execute as well as we can, because if we don't we know that they will capitalise on our mistakes," he said.