Rugby: Red-hot Butler won't give mentor his No 7 jersey back without a battle

David Pocock has been relegated to the bench by the red-hot form of teammate Jarrad Butler. Photo / Getty

Brumbies flanker Jarrad Butler is the man getting in the way of Super Rugby's most eagerly awaited match-up - and he couldn't care less.

David Pocock v Michael Hooper.

It's an epic No 7 showdown sure to speed up Allianz Stadium's ticket-gate turnstiles when the Brumbies take on the Waratahs tomorrow. The only problem is Butler's red-hot form for the Brumbies means Pocock will have to make his return to the paddock from an ankle injury off the bench.

While Butler credits Pocock in helping him cut it as a Super Rugby backrower, he's not overly keen to give the "best flanker in the world" his No 7 jersey back without a fight.

"It's not fun being on the bench. But what can you do? Just keep playing well," said Butler, 23.

So well has Butler been playing that he's caught the eye of Wallabies and Waratahs coach Michael Cheika, who this week declared him a shock candidate for the Wallabies' back row for the Rugby World Cup.

"Yeah, that was really positive. I was really happy about that," the Wellington-born flanker said.

Butler, Pocock and Hooper all have very different styles as No 7s, which will make tomorrow afternoon's clash all the more interesting.

"I definitely don't offer what Poey offers. He's one of the best pilferers in the game ... And Hooper is very dynamic with ball carries.

"But I'm not here to compare myself, I'm just going to work hard."

Pocock, injured for most of the 2014 season with a second straight ACL knee injury, spent a lot of his rehab time helping build Butler up.

In fact, it was his tutelage that persuaded Butler to come to the Brumbies from the Reds last year.

Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham will probably put Pocock back into the starting line-up in coming weeks.

There is room for both players, because Butler played alongside Pocock as a No 8 in round one.

But with Ita Vaea storming around the paddock in his inspirational comeback and Fotu Auelua also back soon, Butler knows he's in for a fight.

- AAP