Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock looks set to make a decision on his long-term future by the end of the year, following his recent fact-finding mission to Japan.

Mortlock flew to Japan for explorative talks with Kyuden Vortex while recovering from a knee injury during the recent Tri-Nations.

He comes off-contract with Australian rugby at the end of 2010 and he was reportedly offered AU$3.75-million (about R25-million) before signing his latest deal with the ARU.

"Basically I've got to work out my long-term future," he told reporters on Monday.

"It's something I'll just have a look at down the track. At this stage, nothing's really changed. Probably after the [European] tour I'll be able to sit down and have a good long, hard look at that, where to next.

"It was a good opportunity to just go over there and have a look at it.

"Whenever I'm in a situation where you have to make a decision, I want to make a very informed decision.

"It was part of gaining an understanding of what it's like culturally, I've got a family and everything else so there's a lot of things you've got to factor in as far as making decisions about the future."