The second instalment of the Brumbies vs Waratahs is looking incredibly important in terms of who will top the Australia conference in 2015, but it's one head-to-head positional battle that really has fans talking. Michael Hooper travels to Canberra on Friday as the incumbent Wallabies' No. 7 and captain where he will face David Pocock, the man who owned both those roles before a wretched run of injury sidelined him for the best part of two years.

Pocock is now fit and firing while the battle for back-row jerseys at Test level is perhaps the most competitive Australia has ever seen, especially when you add Reds workhorse Liam Gill, Force veteran Matt Hodgson and Test great George Smith - who is once again eligible for the Wallabies - into the equation.

Brumbies v Waratahs - Pocock v Hooper

Given the constant that is Hooper and the Waratahs, it is impossible to study how they would fare without him; that is not the case for Pocock and the Brumbies though. With Pocock in the side, the Brumbies have commanded more possession and have looked to keep it in hand by reducing the amount of their kicking. One by-product of Pocock being in this side is a higher penalty count, though he has averaged less than one per game himself.

Both players feature heavily when it comes to rankings within their respective sides. The flankers make more tackles per game than any of their teammates while the Brumbies tyro is nearly twice as effective as any of his other teammates when it comes to turning the ball over. It is also one area where he is far superior to Hooper. On the flipside however, Hooper's attacking skills leave Pocock for dead. The Waratahs No.7 has racked up nine clean-breaks in as many games this season - including a brilliant set-play effort against the Rebels last weekend - and sits equal-ninth in the overall standings for defenders beaten. It's a real case of attack versus defence.

Both men have been busy at the breakdown too, in terms of hitting rucks this season. Hooper has thrown his weight into 260, the fifth most in Super Rugby, while Pocock has also posted some impressive figures; the 27-year-old hitting 197 this season despite missing rounds two to five. Only 25 players have hit more rucks than the Pocock in season 2015, a fair effort when you consider his injury-enforced absence.

George Smith has played far more games than the others, but his numbers are still compelling © Opta Stats

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The others

The battle for Test selection is by no means a two-horse race. Matt Hodgson will hope to put a run of games together to force his way into the reckoning while Liam Gill has been a rare shining light during a miserable year in Queensland. The Reds' spirited challenge against the Hurricanes quickly fell apart when he was sin-binned - a little unluckily - last weekend, while his vigour in defence has certainly caught the eye. Gill leads the way for turnovers won so far this season, in fact he has made at least four more than anybody else and has also hit 301 rucks, the most of any player this season.

Liam Gill has been the dominant breakdown force in Super Rugby this season © Getty Images

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The recent overhaul of the ARU's Test selection policy has also brought the inevitable calls for one last renaissance for George Smith. Crazy as it may sound, the 111-cap man has had a strong season in France, posting some impressive stats for Lyon despite the club's poor season. He ranks second for carries and 11th overall for metres gained and is the only forward to hit four figures for metres in 2014/15, suggesting he still has plenty left in the tank. He also sits 11th in the Top 14 for defenders beaten and third for turnovers won. In a league which has a reputation for little action, he has certainly been very busy indeed. Smith may be the oldest of the bunch but his numbers certainly suggest he could still cut it among the game's elite openside flankers.