Went to school with @wonganisilo in Zimbabwe, 13 years later she's looking after me in hospital in Brisbane! Crazy! pic.twitter.com/dh6XnZcp1x

— David Pocock (@pocockdavid) March 6, 2014

Ben Mowen has put the Hurricanes on notice, saying the news of David Pocock's devastating season-ending injury will spark the Brumbies to produce an extra special Super Rugby performance.

Pocock went down late in Saturday's win over Western Force in Perth, and an arthroscopy on Wednesday confirmed he had re-ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He then underwent a full reconstruction on the knee - the same surgery he had last season after rupturing the same ligament in round four of the Super Rugby competition.

Mowen said his side would use the news of Pocock's season-long absence as motivation in Wellington rather than see it as a distraction.

"We're going to speak as a group and make sure this performance is a pretty special one," Mowen said. "If you lose a guy like that, you want to make sure he knows how much he means to the boys."

Devastated but trying to keep perspective. So appreciative of all the support I've received. Thank you all

— David Pocock (@pocockdavid) March 5, 2014

Pocock's injury leaves the Brumbies with the almost impossible task of finding an equally talented replacement.

One option doing the rounds is sign 111-Test Wallabies George Smith, who replaced Pocock in sensational fashion last year to help take the Brumbies to the Super Rugby final. Smith returns to Australia next week after wrapping up duties in Japan with Suntory Sungoliath.

Smith intends to take a hard-earned break with his family until May, before flying to France to join division-two club Lyon on a two-year deal ahead of the 2014-2015 season kick-off in September, but Mowen said his name would definitely pop up among the coaching staff.

"Whether that's a realistic choice or not, I don't know," Mowen said. "But for a guy who came back and performed so well for the side last year, I'm sure that's an option. He may or may not have other priorities, so we've just got to see how all that unfolds."

Smith's management said on Wednesday that they would advise him to take a break instead of playing for the Brumbies but the player was "his own man" who made his own decisions.