The plan was to finish his Super Rugby career as a 28-year-old, content with a decade of action for the Wallabies, ACT Brumbies and Western Force.

But "hugely frustrating" injuries and time away from Australian rugby have ignited the fire to continue, vowing to repay the Brumbies' faith when he makes his comeback this year.

Pocock's Brumbies return will be delayed until at least the end of March after having knee surgery to repair the damage to his meniscus.

The Brumbies hope short-term pain will be a long-term gain after the club opted for Pocock to have an operation immediately rather than risking more damage or being hampered by niggling injuries.

Pocock is grateful for that approach, revealing his initial plan was to finish his playing days 10 years after making his debut for the Western Force in 2006.

Two knee reconstructions in Canberra and a 12-month Australian rugby sabbatical to refresh his mind have changed his outlook, reluctant to put an end date on his career.

"I obviously want to be out there now. I always thought I would be done after 10 years, done when I got to 28 years old but life doesn't turn out how you plan," Pocock said.

"I've always said when I stop enjoying it, I'll definitely stop playing then.

"...It's often the hard moments when you learn the most about yourself and life when things don't go your way and you've got to pick yourself up.

"The only thing you can control is how you react. I obviously missed a lot of rugby for the Brumbies and that has been hugely frustrating."

Pocock is part of a double Brumbies comeback this year, with Christian Lealiifano to make his full-time return in the Super Rugby season opener in Japan on Saturday.

The experienced duo are considered championship linchpins who can help lift the Brumbies from finals participants to title contenders this year.

Both players missed the Brumbies' 2017 campaign for very different reasons.

Lealiifano was diagnosed with leukaemia at the end of 2016 and was recovering before playing his first game in the finals last season.

Pocock took a 12-month break from Australian rugby duties to do conservation work in Africa and play in Japan.

However, the timing of his return to the Brumbies and his operation sparked debate about his time away.

"Certainly having a year away, in my mind that has allowed me to go a few more years to see how they pan out. I don't see the upside of looking too far ahead," Pocock said.

"People will say what they want. They don't see when you're sore after games or carrying niggling injuries

"I'm pretty grateful [to Brumbies coach Dan McKellar] for giving me this chance to get the injury sorted.

"I think Dan is putting faith in me, but he's also putting faith in the other guys he has recruited. That says a lot about Dan and the kind of person he is.

"It's his first stint as head coach and you want results, but he's a really good human being and sees the human side of things. The group respects him for that. Sometimes that's lost in professional sport."

Pocock has been training in the altitude chamber at the University of Canberra to stay fit for his impending return, working in 38.5 degrees, 54 per cent humidity and at 804 metres above sea level.

He is set to return to running on the field in the coming weeks and hopes his stint in Japan under the guidance of former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has helped add a new attacking dimension to his game.

"The key for me is to just enjoy it. When you do that, try different things and try to improve, that's when I feel I play my best rugby," Pocock said.