Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is set to call on either Jarrad Butler, Michael Wells or Jordan Smiler to step in for Pocock, who has been suspended for two of the club's biggest games of the season.

Pocock pleaded guilty to playing a player without the ball after he was cited for grabbing Waikato Chiefs' No. 8 Michael Leitch around the neck when trying to defend a rolling maul.

Pocock will miss games against the NSW Waratahs and the Canterbury Crusaders after the SANZAAR judiciary took a stance against dangerous play and contact with the neck.

But it can be revealed the SANZAAR citing process has overlooked two dangerous clean out attempts that left Pocock and Jordan Smiler dumped on their heads, despite Brumbies officials requesting they be investigated.

Clubs privately fear the unpredictable process, which requires a citing commissioner to deem an incident to have met a red-card threshold before it can be sent to the judiciary.

There is footage of Pocock being picked up and driven head first into the ground three weeks ago by Cape Town Stormers players Schalk Burger and Juan de Jongh when trying to prevent him from pilfering a ball.

The same happened to Smiler in the Brumbies' loss to the Chiefs last weekend when Charlie Ngatai lifted him from behind and flipped him on to the ground.

Both incidents, which appear to breach Law 10.4 (j) for lifting a player, were reported to the citing commissioner but neither resulted in punishment because they did not meet the three required thresholds for lifting.

In contrast, Brumbies winger Henry Speight was suspended for five games last year for a similar incident in a final against the Stormers.

A lifting tackle is deemed to be one where the players' legs are lifted above the horizontal, there is a driving action into the ground and head contact into the ground. A player only appears before the SANZAAR judicial officer if the incident has met a red-card threshold.

Pocock was in breach of Law 10.4 (e) and Leitch appeared to hit out at Pocock in trying to get the Brumbies flanker to release him during a maul in the 74th minute of the match.

"David didn't even know about it when he came into [Wallabies camp] on the Sunday and we were a little bit surprised when it call came out," Cheika said on Rugby 360.

"It will affect the Brumbies, absolutely no doubt because he's a quality player. But it's a great opportunity for Jarrad Butler ... it's a great opportunity for him to step up and say, 'I'm here now, watch me play'."

An independent citing commissioner watches every match and decides on incidents he would like to review. Teams can also make a referral within four hours after full-time.

"We've had a few discussions about the consistency of rulings and that's all we're after," Larkham said.

"We put a couple of guys up for citing and we've had feedback from SANZAAR officials that the incidents haven't breached the threshold for a red card and therefore wasn't taken any further.

"David Pocock loses his exemplary [record] because of this incident. The decision has been made and it's a shame ... We're obviously disappointed because he's a great player and a great role model for kids."

The Brumbies will return to training on Monday following this weekend's bye, with Wells and Smiler the likely options to replace Pocock as Butler continues his recovery from a knee injury.

The Brumbies next face the Waratahs, Crusaders, defending champion Otago Highlanders, Pretoria Bulls and Melbourne Rebels in a run of games that could ultimately decide their finals fate.

Waratahs coach Darryl Gibson said: "He's one of the best players in the world, so having to not face him is a bonus. But the Brumbies have got excellent depth so I'm sure they'll put out someone equally as good."