Pocock, Toomua remain doubtful

The Brumbies may have named an unchanged line-up to take on the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday, but an injury cloud continues to hover over two key players.

Flank David Pocock and replacement Matt Toomua are both still on the doubtful list ahead of the preliminary play-off match.

Pocock has been named at flank despite leaving the field with concussion concerns in the 24-37 loss to the Crusaders in Canberra last week.

"He's on track to play," coach Stephen Larkham said, after naming an unchanged starting XV.

"But every day he's got to tick a box, so he could fall back a day and miss the game."

The match against the Stormers would be Pocock's first ever Super Rugby play-off appearance.

In 2013 in his first season with the Brumbies, Pocock missed the side's run to the Final, following a season-ending knee injury.

Also under an injury cloud for the match at Newlands is Toomua, who has been named on an extended replacement bench.

Last week the 24-year-old played 28 minutes from the bench in just his second game in eight matches, following two separate ankle injuries.

"Coming back from a syndesmosis everything is cleared medically, it's just whether he feels good, which I suspect he will," Larkham said.

The Brumbies are preparing for another physical game against the Stormers, to whom they lost 25-24 at Newlands in May.

"It was Test match intensity and that's what's required to beat the Stormers," Larkham said.

"They've got a very big forward pack so the biggest lesson for us is understanding that physicality will be a massive part of this game."

The side isn't concerned that they haven't won in Cape Town since 2010, and will be out to replicate their South African finals success of 2013.

In that match the Brumbies downed heavy favourites the Bulls 26-23 with a try in the final minute sealing the win.

The Brumbies have won two-out-of-two in the Super Rugby preliminary play-offs matches (before the semifinals) and this is the third year in a row they have reached this stage of the competition.

Source: @BrumbiesRugby