Pocock will take the full-time captaincy reins for the first time in the round-one clash at Canberra Stadium.

Arguably the best openside flanker in the world, Pocock replaces veteran lock Nathan Sharpe and is viewed as a long-term skipper for the Perth-based club.

Sharpe has led the Force for the majority of games in the franchise's history, but he will retire at the end of the season. But far from fazed by the extra responsibility, Pocock insisted his job at the breakdown was his main focus.

''You've got to ensure you play your best and the responsibility of serving your teammates in that role is definitely my focus,'' Pocock said.

''[It's] playing to the best of my ability first and foremost. From what we know of the Brumbies they're very tidy and they definitely know how they want to play and I think Jake White has done a fantastic job with them in a short space of time.''

Brumbies coach White has selected a monster back row to try and lessen Pocock's impact on the match.

Powerful Tongan Ita Vaea will be put in the unfamiliar role of openside flanker and he will be joined by Peter Kimlin and Ben Mowen.

The Brumbies' back row will be a combined 336 kilograms and 580 centimetres, giving it a 23kg and 19cm advantage over the Force trio of Pocock, Ben McCalman and Matt Hodgson.

White said the Brumbies would target Pocock when they have the ball in an attempt to minimise his influence.

If Pocock is forced to make tackles, it limits his ability to be the second man to a breakdown and steal the ball. But while specialist No. 7 Michael Hooper is on the bench, White backed Vaea to capably do the job.

''The bottom line is Ita Vaea is a very good rugby player, I don't think he just deserves 20 minutes off the bench at the end of the game,'' White said.

''I think he will have more of an impact at the start of the game … with Ita, Ben Mowen and Peter Kimlin - I'm quite excited to see how that goes.

''It will be interesting to see what this back row means to Brumbies rugby this season.''

But the trio's size advantage won't guarantee them success. Pocock has become an influential player for the Force and Wallabies.

''They [the Brumbies] have guys on the bench who fit that fetcher role, but [from] what I've seen Ita Vaea has done a fair bit of work at the breakdown,'' Pocock said.

''It's going to be a huge challenge, the last few years there's been a bigger focus on the breakdown and that will continue.

''Going into every game as a No. 7 you're a target for the opposition.''