A star-studded Melbourne Side reintroduced Quade Cooper to Super Rugby and managed to sneak away with a win against the under-manned ACT Brumbies at Canberra Stadium.

Both teams showed glimpses of the way they hope to play this season, but in the end it was a typical round-one derby and the Rebels held on for an 34-27 triumph.

It was a brutal way for the Brumbies to start their year at home, compounded by injuries to David Pocock, Henry Speight and lightning-quick recruit Toni Pulu.

Pocock lasted just five minutes before he was concussed, Pulu suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone and Speight limped off the field in the second half.

Pulu, regarded as one of the fastest players in the competition and a Wallabies hopeful, could miss a large chunk of the season if he needs surgery to repair the damage. He was taken to hospital from the ground to assess the injury.

The trio of injury woes left the Brumbies severely undermanned and the Rebels version 2019 made them pay dearly for squandered chances in an absorbing nine-try battle.

The saving grace for the Brumbies was a losing bonus point in a gutsy performance that left players on the ground gasping for breath when they fell short at the final siren.

"We're disappointed, but the Rebels are a quality side. Some stuff to build on heading into the season," said Brumbies captain Christian Lealiifano.

"The Rebels were good at maintaining pressure on us ... It's a nice starting point for us and I'm sure we'll continue to grow."

The Rebels have now beaten the Brumbies three times in a row and have set themselves up for a big year.

"Really happy with that, really proud of the boys. It wasn't all good, plenty to work on, but we'll take that," said Rebels captain Dane Haylett-Petty.

"They put us under pressure but we managed to hang in there. He's always been magical, Quade, but what he really brought was composure when it was an arm wrestle."

Fox Sports commentator Greg Martin described Cooper's effort as "the most commanding performance from an Australian flyhalf that I've seen in three years. Quade Cooper has been outstanding".

The helter-skelter first half had six tries as both teams tried to find their feet, the Brumbies striking first before a Rebels fightback.

There were four tries in one 15-minute burst, and somehow the Brumbies led by three points at the break thanks to tries from Folau Faingaa, Rory Arnold and Allan Alaalatoa.

They had a massive breeze behind their back and should have led by more, but the Rebels were determined to win in Canberra for just the third time in their history.

"Canberra is a hell of hard place to come and play," said Rebels coach Dave Wessels.

"These sort of derbies are massive for us because not only do you get the win, but they don't get the win so it's like an eight point swing."

Cooper pulled the strings conservatively at flyhalf in his first Super Rugby games since being ostracised at the Queensland Reds last year.

His try-saving tackle on Tevita Kuridrani in the opening minutes was an uncharacteristic sign from an improved player ready to make his mark.

The enigmatic playmaker showed plenty of restraint as the Rebels scored tries via Tom English, Jack Maddocks, Matt Philip in the opening half.

From there the match was all about the Rebels as the Brumbies scrambled to hang on, Anaru Rangi turning into a cannonball to take the lead and then Maddocks getting his second with a diving catch to score.

The result was a crushing blow for the Brumbies, who desperately needed a win at home to start rebuilding crowd support.

Just 8500 turned up on a perfect summer night. It was a marked improvement on the 5000 that watched the Rebels play in Canberra last year, but not quite enough to ease concerns about attendance figures this season.

The Brumbies showed plenty of guts, Pete Samu and Locky McCaffrey leading the way in the back row and they tried to drag their teammates with them.

James Slipper was impressive in his return to rugby after a controversial year and Sam Carter scored a try with time running out to give the home side hope of a last-gasp win.

But the Rebels deserved to win after having almost 80 per cent of territory in the second half.

AT A GLANCE

MELBOURNE REBELS 34 (Jack Maddocks 2, Tom English, Matt Philip, Anaru Rangi tries, Quade Cooper 3 conversions, penalty) bt ACT BRUMBIES 27 (Folau Faingaa, Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Sam Carter tries; Christian Lealiifano 2 conversions, penalty) at Canberra Stadium on Friday night. Referee: Ben O'Keefe. Crowd: 8500.