Saturday, 15 September 2018:

DAVID POCOCK of the Brumbies runs onto the field before the round seven Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Waratahs at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Australia.

David Pocock admits he may have to manage his war-torn neck for the rest of his career as he prepares to make his Wallabies return as captain.

The flanker will step in for injured skipper Michael Hooper (hamstring) against Argentina on the Gold Coast on Saturday after missing last week's defeat of South Africa.

The injury is a result of Pocock's dominance at the breakdown, with opponents pulling and twisting at his neck in an attempt to remove him from is position over the ball.

World Rugby maintains a strong stance on issues such as high tackles, dangerous play and intentional knockdowns but no action has been taken to penalise any illegal neck-rolling that has led to Pocock's discomfort this year.

While confident he has proved his fitness to clash with Los Pumas, Pocock admits he will need to sit down next week and establish some long-term safeguards.

"It's something I'll have to talk to medical staff about and have a bit of a plan," he said.

"I've got through enough contact (at training this week) to give me the confidence to play and that's the focus at the moment."

Argentina boast an imposing forward pack but coach Mario Ledesma, who built his resume as the Wallabies' forwards coach for three years, won't resort to illegal tactics to stop Australia's pilfering master.

"Trying to be before him, beat him to the ruck," Ledesma said when asked how to counter Pocock.

"But everybody tries and not everyone succeeds."

Argentina carry plenty of zip in their backline, too, and could be hard to handle at what is expected to be a fast Cbus Super Stadium surface perfect for free-flowing rugby.

Factoring in Israel Folau's aerial threat, Ledesma says his biggest focus has been preparing for the Wallabies' first-phase play.

Both sides boast a 1-2 record in the Rugby Championship with the victor set to move into outright second if New Zealand beat South Africa.

Australia are aiming for back-to-back wins while the visitors were plucky in a loss to New Zealand last week that followed a comfortable defeat of the Springboks on home soil.

AAP