ACT Brumbies back-rower Tom Cusack will take a cautious approach with his recovery from a fourth concussion in 12 months after visiting specialists in Melbourne to test his return-to-play progress.
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Cusack has been ruled out of the Canberra premier division grand final on Saturday and it is unclear when he will start playing again after copping a head knock in the Brumbies' clash against the Waikato Chiefs five weeks ago.
The hard-working flanker stamped himself as a Super Rugby player this year, earning 15 caps as a versatile man in the Brumbies' forward pack.
But the Brumbies are wary of pushing him to get back on the field and will give the 25-year-old time to rejuvenate and add more size to his 102 kilogram frame for his second campaign next year.
Cusack went to Melbourne as part of the Australian rugby concussion protocols and completed a series of cognitive, memory and balance tests.
"They'll make an assessment on that. I've had too many in the last 12 months and the guidelines force you to get more testing done, so that's what I did," Cusack said.
"There was a little bit of a lapse [in some aspects], but it will come back with time. And time is what you need with your head. To have had this time off without the pressure of playing has been good.
"It's improving every day, but you've got to take the precautions that come with concussion. That's the reality of it, you only get one head and you don't want to stuff it up by trying to come back too soon."
Cusack was a key figure in Royals' charge to the John I Dent Cup title last year, helping the side win the grand final and complete an undefeated season.
His Brumbies duties and injuries meant he didn't play a game this season for the Phillip-based club, but he was still at training on Thursday night to pump up his teammates for the clash against Tuggeranong.
Brumbies skipper Sam Carter is set to start in the Royals' second row, setting the stage for a showdown with rising Brumby and Vikings lock Darcy Swain.
Andy Muirhead and Lausii Taliauli will join Carter in the Royals side, while Jordan Jackson-Hope and Ben Hyne are set to play for the Vikings.
JOHN I DENT CUP GRAND FINAL
Saturday: Royals v Tuggeranong Vikings at Viking Park, 3.25pm. First game of the day starts at 9.35am.
