The ACT Brumbies are keeping their fingers crossed star flanker David Pocock plays on next year, but know they have a quality Plan B in Jarrad Butler if required.
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Pocock's playing future beyond the end of this season remains up in the air before Friday night's Super Rugby season opener against the Wellington Hurricanes at Canberra Stadium.
It has been speculated the Wallabies representative may go on a sabbatical for a year to study in England before returning to before the 2019 World Cup.
The Brumbies are likely to look within their own ranks to find a replacement for Pocock if that is the case.
Butler would have the inside running having done a wonderful job wearing the No.7 jersey in 2014 when Pocock was recovering from knee surgery.
Butler was named the Brumbies' players' player that season, but showed his versatility in switching between both flanker positions and No.8 last year.
The 25-year-old was also recognised as a player of the future when chosen by Wallabies coach Michael Cheika to play for a Barbarians team at the end of last year.
Brumbies forwards coach Dan McKellar said Butler has shown he could step into the No.7 jersey if Pocock has a year off.
"He's done a job for us in 2014 and won the Brett Robinson medal playing at seven, so we know he can fill that role for us," McKellar said.
"(Butler) can play seven, eight or six, wherever he is required, so he is certainly someone who would be considered if that was to happen.
"He is a reliable footballer and you know what you're going to get with him week in and week out.
"His strength is his consistency and he complements our other back-rowers."
Butler is in a selection battle with Ita Vaea for the No.8 role against the Hurricanes, but his ability to cover different positions makes him the ideal player to have on the bench.
The Brumbies boast a wealth of riches in their forward pack, with Vaea and Butler the only two likely to be in the starting team who haven't represented the Wallabies.
Young prop Allan Alaalatoa has made an impressive transition to loose-head prop and will vie with Albert Anae to be the back-up to Scott Sio.
Sio played in the second half of the Brumbies' trial game against the Queensland Reds.
It was his first game since suffering elbow and knee injuries at the World Cup last year.
"Scotty will be playing on Friday night," McKellar said.
"He did pretty well in the trial for someone who is coming back from a couple of serious injuries.
"He's always been a powerful footballer and very dynamic around the park in attack and defence."
The Brumbies will need to be at their best to gain finals revenge on a red-hot Hurricanes side, which was surprisingly beaten by the Highlanders in the decider.
The intent of the Hurricanes was there for all to see after they crushed the Crusaders 74-7 in their final trial game last weekend.
Hurricanes captain Dane Coles hasn't played since helping the All Blacks win last year's World Cup, but the man dubbed the premier hooker in world rugby will be a certain starter on Friday night.
"You'd imagine he may be a little bit rusty, but I'm sure he's done plenty of work on the training field in and around the set piece," McKellar said.
"He's an extremely dangerous player in general play as well – he's got great speed and great footwork for a hooker.
"A player of his quality, I'm sure he'll slot back in without any issue."
FRIDAY: Super Rugby: ACT Brumbies v Wellington Hurricanes at Canberra Stadium, 7.40pm.
