The Brumbies have started scouting potential recruits to fill the void left by Pocock, who had a knee reconstruction on Wednesday night, which ended his season.

It was a devastating blow for Pocock after having the same operation 12 months ago and missing last year's Super Rugby campaign.

The Brumbies will ramp up their search for another player to add to their squad after they play the Wellington Hurricanes in the New Zealand capital on Friday night.

But it is understood coaches Stephen Larkham and Laurie Fisher will approach Smith to see if he can be lured into a return to Canberra.

''Whether [Smith is] a realistic choice or not, I don't know,'' said Brumbies captain Ben Mowen.

''But, for a guy who came back and performed so well for the side last year, I'm sure that's an option.

''He may or may not have other priorities, so we've just got to see how all that unfolds.''

The Brumbies admit their chances are slim as they contemplate recruiting Smith for a cameo role similar to last year, when he replaced Pocock in the same circumstances.

Smith arrives back in Australia next week but has signed a two-year deal with French club Lyon. His management is urging him to take a break from rugby after 18 months but will not close the door on a potential Brumbies reunion.

French clubs are strict on their international players and the Brumbies would likely need to find insurance for a lucrative Lyon deal.

It is understood Fisher started canvassing potential players to join the Brumbies at openside flanker but he is also backing the club's roster depth to fill the massive gap.

Smith is regarded as one of the greatest Wallabies and Brumbies players, his career spanning 142 Super Rugby games and 111 Tests.

Pocock's knee surgery was the second time in 12 months the 25-year-old needed a reconstruction.

Pocock was awake as surgeon Peter Myers did an arthroscopy on his knee and found damage to the anterior cruciate ligament, Pocock immediately giving Myers the all-clear to do a full reconstruction.

''It's a long road back but I'll get there,'' Pocock texted.

The Brumbies squad went silent when told of Pocock's season-ending surgery as they arrived in Sydney on Wednesday night.

Pocock has played just five games for the Brumbies in the past two seasons and has a year remaining on his ACT and ARU contract.

Rookie Jarrad Butler will be given the No.7 jersey for the match against the Hurricanes but the Brumbies do not have a specialist openside flanker on their roster.

Smith will return to Australia next week and spend three months in the country before moving his family to France.

It opens the door for the Brumbies to try to tempt the 33-year-old back to Canberra.

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie said Pocock would be a valuable asset to the Test team for the World Cup next year, if fit.

''Anyone who knows [Pocock] would understand just how hard he worked during his rehab and, personally, I'm disappointed for him that he won't get to reap the benefits of that for the Brumbies and Wallabies this year,'' McKenzie said.