The good news is David Pocock is ready for his ACT Brumbies comeback and could be thrust into the starting side next week to renew his duel with Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper.
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The bad news for the Brumbies is Pocock's looming return will be offset by the news hooker Josh Mann-Rea's Super Rugby season is over.
The Brumbies are hopeful Pocock will play his first game for the club in almost two years in a derby clash against the NSW Waratahs in Canberra on March 31.
But Mann-Rea's season has ended in injury heartbreak after the 37-year-old's body was twisted awkwardly two weeks ago, shattering his campaign after just three games.
Mann-Rea will have surgery this week to reattach his hamstring to the bone, ruling him out of action for up to six months.
It's a cruel blow for the veteran rake and the Brumbies have signed Canberra junior Connal McInerney to a supplementary contract to bolster their hooker stocks.
McInerney will shoulder a massive load alongside fellow rookie Folau Faingaa while Robbie Abel continues his recovery from niggling rib problems.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar backed the young trio to rise to the challenge and was adamant Mann-Rea could make an impact as a 38-year-old next year.
"If anyone has the resilience to get through, it's Josh," McKellar said.
"And he knows we will back him 100 per cent to come back so we're focused on getting him right for the National Rugby Championship now."
The Brumbies are hopeful Abel, Pocock (knee) and skipper Sam Carter (concussion) will all be available for selection for a crucial showdown with NSW.
Pocock hasn't played for the Brumbies since an elimination final in 2016 after taking a 12-month sabbatical from Australian rugby duties. His Brumbies return was delayed by knee surgery in January.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said a decision on Pocock's availability would be made next week when the champion openside flanker tests himself in opposed training sessions.
"I hope [Pocock is ready for the Waratahs], he's just got to get through a full week of training next week. But he'll be available for selection most likely," McKellar said.
"It's just a full week of training, contact and all of that. He's done some progressions at this point in time which is controlled, but a little bit more chaos in terms of what he's doing in and around the collision area.
"All signs are positive at this point in time. I think his presence around the group over the last eight weeks has been great as well, but to have him ready to play would be a big lift."
Pocock's looming return could force back-row changes. McKellar says he is willing to throw Pocock straight into the starting XV, but is yet to make a selection decision.
McKellar has ordered his players and staff to get away from rugby for the rest of the bye week to refresh before a clash against the Waratahs.
When they return, the Brumbies will face a season-defining run with five of the next six games to be played at Canberra Stadium.
"I wouldn't say we've got momentum at the moment. We've spoken a lot about our home record in recent years and making sure we change that. The [Waratahs] is another chance of that," McKellar said.
"If you want to challenge for the competition, minimum you've got to win your home games and then pick a couple up on the road. To win the Australian conference, you'd probably need to win nine or 10 games, maybe more. We've got a chance to get on a roll now and put ourselves in a good position."
