ACT Brumbies flanker Tom Cusack says he's happy to bide his time for Super Rugby opportunities and is keen to work with David Pocock to form a No. 7 tag team this season.
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Pocock is expected to join the Brumbies for their clash against the Wellington Hurricanes in Palmerston North on Friday night after he was concussed five minutes into the first game of the season.
His return gives coach Dan McKellar a back-row headache, with Cusack, Lachlan McCaffrey, Pete Samu and Rob Valetini all having claims to be snatch the three starting spots up for grabs.
Cusack got his chance in the Brumbies' thumping win against the Waikato Chiefs last weekend and didn't disappoint in an 80-minute performance.
It's likely McKellar will keep him in the team for a trip to New Zealand given Pocock has played just five minutes since November last year.
"The reality of it is that we've got a phenomenal back row this season," Cusack said. "Guys have a lot of skill and they complement each other as well.
"It's going to be a year of trying to build combinations and you're probably going to see a different combination every weekend because we're in a fortunate position where we can rest and rotate people."
The Brumbies have now won two of their past three games and New Zealand opponents, but they haven't tasted victory across the Tasman since toppling the Hurricanes in Wellington almost exactly five years ago.
The return of Pocock is a timely boost for a side riding high on confidence after scoring eight tries against the Waikato Chiefs last weekend.
Rugby Australia wants to manage Pocock's workload this year to have him in peak condition for the World Cup in Japan, which starts in September.
The 30-year-old was expected to be rested for two or three games during the Super Rugby season. The Brumbies had hoped to count round one and two towards that tally, but it's likely only one of those will count because he was concussed in the season-opener.
The Brumbies will turn to Cusack in the games Pocock doesn't play after the Rio Olympian and former sevens gun added eight kilograms to his frame in the off-season to handle the physical flanker role.
"I didn't really notice the difference out there ... a few kilos probably helped here and there but I honestly don't know if it had a big impact," Cusack said.
"Poey was running the later [against the Chiefs] and I actually asked him a couple of things during the game.
"You continuously learn from people like that, and Christian [Lealiifano] and Sam Carter. Guys that have been around, know the game and have a wealth of knowledge. They're imparting it on this group and I think that's why we performed so well."
McKellar is weighing up his other selection options, with Henry Speight and Lausii Taliauli also pushing their claims to return after injuries stalled the start to their years.
Andy Muirhead was outstanding when he started last week and Chance Peni scored a double in his first Super Rugby game in nine months after back to back suspensions ruined his 2018 campaign.
SUPER RUGBY ROUND THREE
Friday: Wellington Hurricanes v ACT Brumbies at Palmerston North, 5.35pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports.
