Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is 99 per cent certain Australian rugby fans will get to see a long-awaited David Pocock v Michael Hooper Super Rugby battle on Sunday.
Pocock must pass a fitness test on Wednesday before he can take to Allianz Stadium against the Waratahs for the high-stakes clash between his Australian conference leaders and the defending champions.
Pocock has been out of action since injuring his ankle in round one against the Queensland Reds, where he impressed in his comeback from a second knee reconstruction with a man-of-the-match performance.
A return to the park this weekend will see him go head-to-head with his successor in the Wallabies No.7 jersey, Hooper - their first battle since Pocock suffered his first ruptured ACL against the Waratahs in 2013.
"He (Pocock) has his final fitness test tomorrow morning, but I'm expecting him to pass," Larkham said.
"I'm very optimistic. I'm 99 per cent sure he'll be right.
"He trained towards the end of last week very well, and today we had a short run out there and he trained really well there as well."
However Larkham is reluctant to tinker with his in-form back row of Ita Vaea, Jarrad Butler and Scott Fardy, meaning Pocock is likely to eased back via the bench.
"It is (a selection dilemma), considering the way the backrow have been playing," Larkham said.
However Larkham added that having Pocock's presence at the ruck would help stem the Waratahs' momentum in attack.
"Certainly Poey adds that other element," Larkham said.
"A backrower who gets hard on the ball. It will be a slightly different look to our backrow if Poey gets on the field."
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