Yet an injury to centre Duncan Taylor saw the back called-up last month and he is determined to make the most of his second chance.
And Fife, who scored three tries in 16 GUINNESS PRO12 appearances last season for Edinburgh, says he's learnt a lot since making his breakthrough for the Murrayfield outfit in 2012.
"When I think back to four years ago when I was watching the World Cup in New Zealand on TV, I could not have believed that I would have had a chance to be involved the next time around," Fife told the Scotsman.
"All the way through my amateur club career and then into the pro set-up I have always just tried to work hard - and the same goes for this summer.
"Scotland play a very different way from Edinburgh. Previously it was hard to come into the squad and play the way the coaches wanted. Now with a period of time together I feel more comfortable as we get into that structure and the way the coaching team want to play.
"I feel in a good place to go to the World Cup and help the team if selected. Last year I learned a lot rugby wise, with the ups and downs of the national squad and played in Europe."
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Guinness PRO12 Edinburgh News
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