But the influential flanker is itching to get back on the field and have an impact against the Otago Highlanders as the Brumbies' title dreams go on the line on Friday night.

Pocock has declared himself fit and ready to put his head in dark places again after being cleared by medical staff for his first game in six weeks.

The back-rower's presence is a major boost for the Brumbies, who struggled to build momentum in the last three weeks of the regular season.

Pocock will be playing just the third Super Rugby finals game of his 10-year career and it could be his last before a 12-month sabbatical if the Brumbies are knocked out of the title race.

"I'm really looking forward to it ... it feels like it's been a long time [since I've played]," Pocock said.

"I've been really impressed by the effort and the way guys have approached the last few games. We've got a quarter-final and it's a huge opportunity for us.

"It's going to be a tough game, the Highlanders are playing really good rugby and have attacking players across their line-up.

"We know we're going to have to be at our best. You do all the physical stuff and the last little bit is mental, so I'm excited to be out there with the team again.

"We're confident in the work we've put in and the way we want to play. There's no point focusing on the result, we just have to turn up and play our best rugby to see how that stacks up."

The Brumbies have made three changes to their side for the do-or-die contest, bringing back Pocock and shifting Michael Wells to the bench.

Lock Rory Arnold is struggling to overcome an elbow injury and Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham admitted the 209 centimetre second-rower may not be fit next week if the Brumbies advance.

Blake Enever replaces Arnold while Robbie Coleman has been called on to the wing and experienced prop Ben Alexander has been left out of the game-day squad.

Pocock damaged his eye socket in the Wallabies' opening Test against England when Australian and Brumbies teammate Tevita Kuridrani's boot whacked him in the face.

There's still a mark under his left eye where the cut was made. But Pocock is used to going into battle with wounds.

Less than a year ago he lined up for the World Cup final looking like a panda with a broken nose and two black eyes.

His surgeon gave him a specially-designed headgear to test at training and ease his way back to contact.

"It was just to try to spread the force out a bit if you got a whack at training," Pocock said.

"It was one of the side projects of my surgeon in Brisbane.

"It's almost six weeks to the day now. Against Argentina [in the World Cup] I got my head in the wrong place in a tackle and broke my nose. Against England I copped Tevita's size 14 boot in the face – both will do damage."

Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is confident the changes he has made can spark a finals lift against the defending champion Highlanders.

Enever will end a run of bad luck which hindered the start of his season.

He was injected into the starting XV in round two, but injured his shoulder in the first half and missed the next six weeks. He was also part of the Brumbies' squad to play the Highlanders in Invercargill earlier in the year, but was ruled out with illness before kick-off.

"Rory's injury is pretty bad ... we feel that he's just not right this week," Larkham said.

"[Enever] did the same thing last year, he got his opportunity against the [Wellington] Hurricanes in a final.

"He was probably our man of the match in that game. There's a lot of confidence in Blake in big games. He's a very technical player and works very hard for his teammates."

SUPER RUGBY QUALIFYING FINAL

Friday: ACT Brumbies v Otago Highlanders at Canberra Stadium, 6pm. Tickets available from Ticketek. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 2. Free parking until 4.30pm and the first 2000 at the ground get a free pie.

Brumbies team: 15. Aidan Toua, 14. Nigel Ah Wong, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Matt Toomua, 11. Robbie Coleman, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 9. Tomas Cubelli, 8. Jarrad Butler, 7. David Pocock, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Blake Enever, 3. Ruan Smith, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Scott Sio. Reserves: 16. Josh Mann-Rea, 17. Allan Alaalatoa, 18. Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, 19. Tom Staniforth, 20. Michael Wells, 21. Joe Powell, 22. Andrew Smith, 23. James Dargaville, 24. Lausii Taliauli (one to be omitted).

Highlanders team: 15. Ben Smith, 14. Waisake Naholo, 13. Matt Faddes, 12. Malakai Fekitoa, 11. Patrick Osborne, 10. Lima Sopoaga, 9. Aaron Smith, 8. Liam Squire, 7. Shane Christie, 6. Elliot Dixon, 5. Luke Whitelock, 4. Tom Franklin, 3. Josh Hohneck, 2. Ash Dixon, 1. Daniel Lienert-Brown. Reserves: 16. Liam Coltman, 17. Aki Seiuli, 18. Siosiua Halanukonuka, 19. Mark Reddish, 20. Dan Pryor, 21. Te Aihe Toma, 22. Fletcher Smith, 23. Rob Thompson.