Safe to say the ACT Brumbies flanker has a lot on his plate at the moment.

"But it's all positive and it's all stuff I'm looking forward to. They're all really good milestones to tick off," Cusack said.

Among them is a rise into the Brumbies' leadership group following a changing of the guard at the Super Rugby franchise.

Gone are the likes of David Pocock, Christian Lealiifano, Sam Carter and Henry Speight. In come a host of young guns determined to make their mark.

It makes Cusack one of the more experienced heads getting around club headquarters at pre-season training - but that sits perfectly with him.

"Myself and Bev [Blake Enever] sat down the other day. TP [Toni Pulu] is the oldest here at pre-season at 30, and Bev is 28, then it's myself at 26," Cusack said.

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"It's a pretty young pre-season group and there's really not much else. There's only really James Slipper and Lachy McCaffrey to come back as the older mob.

"I'm looking forward to that opportunity. Nothing has really changed on a personal note in that regard, I like to really pride myself on holding standards at training and being a voice whilst under fatigue.

"It's just a matter of nailing down a bit of leadership knowledge and relaying a message with a good purpose rather than just rambling.

"This leads into a 12 month block with about two weeks off in the middle to go and get married and come back into the swing of things after Christmas.

"It's going to be a bit of a trying time but I'm enjoying it. I go up to Sydney fresh, and I come back fresher from the sevens experience.

"My mind is where it needs to be and my body is where it needs to be as well."

Joining Cusack in the bid to plug the gap left by Pocock are Jahrome Brown and Will Miller, who says the former pair are pushing him to reach a new level.

Miller is yearning for a consistent Super Rugby start having been stuck behind Michael Hooper in Sydney and now he has a chance to find just that.

The 26-year-old joined the Brumbies on a two-year deal and the chance to shine in a new environment is what makes the pre-season slog all worth it.

Because come January 31 against the Queensland Reds, he might look back on those arduous wrestling sessions with a hint of joy.

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"I don't think anyone loves it that much, but it's not too bad," Miller said.

"It's where you put your money in the bank, this is where you do your hard work and put yourself in a good position for the season. As long as everyone buys into it, it's alright. Everyone is having a good crack.

"It's been good, it's been very tough. The hard work happens now, and if we can get that in the bank now then it will make it all easier come the end of January.

"It's very tough at the moment but we're all working together and putting in a good shift.

"Jahrome and Cusack are the incumbents, so for me I have got to try to work a lot harder to get that. It's competition, and any competition is good competition in an environment like this.

"There's a lot of positions up for grabs and a lot of players trying to take them. Everyone is trying to prove themselves and we're no different.

"We're just trying to put our hands up and make ourselves better."