In a cruel blow to Tomane's Australian rugby farewell, he has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after his comeback from a knee injury went horribly wrong last weekend.

Tomane was playing for the Uni-Norths Owls in his return from medial ligament damage in his knee and was tackled by a Wests player at the start of the second half.

The powerful winger was left on the ground in agony and scans confirmed the worst possible news – ending his Brumbies playing days before he starts a lucrative deal with French club Montpellier.

It is expected Tomane will miss the next eight weeks of rugby, but could still play for the Wallabies if required by Test coach Michael Cheika.

"This is a tough pill to swallow, there's no doubt," Tomane said.

"Unfortunately these things happen in rugby and I won't get to farewell everyone the way I would've liked, but that's how it goes sometimes.

"The Brumbies mean the world to me and I'll now get to join our fans in cheering the boys on for the rest of the season.

"I still believe this team has what it takes to win the title this year, and I'll be doing everything I can to help out the players, in whatever way I can.

"I cannot speak highly enough of how much I admire the players I have played alongside over the past five years.

"Thank you Brumbies fans for everything you have done to make my time with this club so memorable."

Tomane resurrected his professional career in Canberra after signing a deal to join the Jake White-led revolution when he was in the Gold Coast Titans' reserve grade side in 2011.

He became one of the Brumbies' greatest assets on and off the field and forged a reputation as one of the hardest wingers to stop in Super Rugby.

Tomane scored 25 tries in 68 games for the Brumbies, as well as playing 17 Tests for Australia.

The walking wounded Brumbies will play the Western Force on Saturday night and need a bonus-point win to guarantee their place in the play-offs.

Hard-working back-rower Scott Fardy didn't train on Monday after injuring his shoulder in a bruising 40-15 loss to the Auckland Blues last week.

Superstar flanker David Pocock is expected to meet with his surgeon later in the week to determine if he is able to return to contact work after fracturing his eye socket last month.

Versatile back-rower Jordan Smiler is back running after injuring his knee at the Mauritius world club 10s, but it remains unclear if he will be able to play against the Force.

The Brumbies still control their Super Rugby finals fate despite the loss to the Blues.

However, if the NSW Waratahs beat the Blues with a bonus point this week, the Brumbies must do the same to the Force to secure a play-off berth.

Tomane's teammates had hoped he would be fit to play the Force to help their finals push and get a fitting send-off to the Canberra crowd.

But his injury confirmed the end of his Brumbies' tenure five years after he made the switch from the NRL to take a Super Rugby chance.

He will join French club Montpellier at the end of the year and is one of a host of Brumbies leaving Canberra when the Super Rugby campaign finishes.

"In rugby there are going to be setbacks, but Joey is such a positive guy and he brings a positive vibe to this team," said prop Scott Sio.

"We know Joey for who he is as a man and his character. That's all that matters to us."

The Brumbies are determined to make sure they don't end their season in the capital this week as they prepare to farewell a list of their best players.

Stephen Moore will join the Queensland Reds, Tomane is going to France, Matt Toomua will link with English club Leicester and Pocock will take a 12-month sabbatical before returning in 2018.

"We knew earlier this year who was going to be here and who wasn't," Sio said.

"That's about turning up every week to put in the best performance because we want them to leave the Brumbies on a positive.

"The best way to do that is to win the competition. It's not really something we've highlighted, but it is something that's in the back of our mind."

SUPER RUGBY ROUND 17

Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Western Force at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.

BRUMBIES FINALS SCENARIOS

• If the Waratahs lose to the Blues by more than seven points, the Brumbies will advance to the play-offs regardless of their result against the Force.
• If the Waratahs lose to the Blues by fewer than seven points, the Brumbies will need to either beat the Force or lose by fewer than seven points as well.
• If the Waratahs beat the Blues, the Brumbies need to beat the Force.
• If the Waratahs secure a bonus-point triumph, the Brumbies need to do the same against the Force.