Smith, regarded as the greatest Brumbies player in Super Rugby history, was all smiles when he arrived in the capital on Friday to play against the ACT for the first time of his 17-year career.

The Brumbies tried to recruit Smith for another farewell tour to replace David Pocock, but the 36-year-old put family first to settle in Brisbane and join the Reds.

But while the "freak" flanker will be a part of the enemy, the Brumbies are still using some of his ideas and skills to help them chase Super Rugby glory.

Smith's former teammate, Peter Ryan, picked the brain of the 111-Test Wallaby when he started his role as Brumbies collision coach in 2015.

"I just think George is a wonderful contributor to the game and when I came back, I called him and emailed him for ideas of what he thought about some things," Ryan said.

"So I used it in our drills ... so it's going to be very weird to be running around but when he puts that Reds jersey on it won't be a major issue.

"Had George not come to the Brumbies I don't know if he would have got a start. He wasn't strong, fit or fast. But on the football field he was amazing.

"There are some blokes that just buck the system. Their physical attributes don't match the game, but when they get out there he's just a freak."

Smith started his career in Canberra in 2000, won two Super Rugby titles, played at two World Cups and won the Brumbies' best player award a record 10 times in 12 seasons.

Players who jump ship to rival teams, especially Queensland or NSW, are usually greeted with a chorus of boos when they return to Canberra.

But Smith is the type of player who's impossible to hate, even when he's driving rival teams and fans nuts by pinching the ball at the breakdown, and he's set for the biggest cheer of all on home turf.

When Smith retired from Australian rugby in 2010, there was always a glimmer of hope he would come back to the Brumbies in the future.

He made a surprise return in 2013 and led the Brumbies to a Super Rugby grand final before disappearing again.

Still, there was hope 'King George' would be back again and rumours started when David Pocock announced his 12-month sabbatical from Australian rugby.

The Brumbies reached out to Smith, but the champion openside flanker put family first to move to Brisbane.

"We got in touch with George a long time ago when we knew Poey was going to take a break," said Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham.

"But it was pretty obvious his family wanted to be up in Brisbane for a long-term future so we didn't push it too hard.

"George is a legend here. He's someone held in high regard by the players and anyone that has played against or with him over the years. But it will be strange to see him on the other side."

When Smith walked away from the Brumbies seven years ago there was talk the ACT government would build a bronze statue of him at Canberra Stadium.

When he made a comeback in 2013, the talk continued but it seemed officials couldn't decide whether to immortalise Smith as a dreadlocked youngster or a wily veteran.

George Smith playing for the Brumbies in 2001. Photo: Nick Laham

The proposed statue was expected to stand between two Canberra Raiders and rugby league greats, Mal Meninga and Laurie Daley.

"[But] I couldn't see myself playing against the Raiders," Meninga smirked before pointing to the George Gregan and Stephen Larkham stand at Canberra Stadium and adding: "Those guys didn't [play against the Brumbies]."

"[Smith] was a fantastic player for the Brumbies in those early years wasn't he."

Most are shocked Smith is still running around as one of the best flankers in Super Rugby.

He could quite easily be playing alongside Larkham and Ryan in a curtain-raiser retro legends game as a 36-year-old.

But the humble veteran, who played a record 142 games for the Brumbies, has shown he can still match it with the young pups of a new generation.

Smith doesn't usually need advice given he's won tournaments around the world and almost every individual accolade.

But seven years after Stirling Mortlock walked off Canberra Stadium arm in arm with Smith after their farewell match, the former Brumbies skipper has a word of warning.

"Don't do what I did," Mortlock said.

"I was in the zone and had my head down when I came back to Canberra with the [Melbourne] Rebels in 2011. When I looked up I was walking into the Brumbies change room.

"It was very, very weird going back to Canberra. I was on autopilot ... I opened the door to the Brumbies change room and had to laugh, turn around and walk straight back out.

"I wasn't sure how the Brumbies faithful would treat me when I came back with the Rebels, but they were respectful.

"George is a freak. When I think about him, I still find it incredibly weird seeing him in that red jersey. But he's easily the greatest-ever Brumby. No one will replicate what he does."

SUPER RUGBY ROUND SEVEN

Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium, 7.40pm. Tickets available for $20 if purchased before 6pm. Curtain-raiser: Brumbies legends v Reds Barbarians at 6pm.

Brumbies team: 15. Aidan Toua, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Kyle Godwin, 11. Tom Banks, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 9. Joe Powell, 8. Jordan Smiler, 7. Chris Alcock, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Rory Arnold, 4. Blake Enever, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Robbie Abel, 1. Scott Sio. Reserves: 16. Saia Faingaa, 17. Nic Mayhew, 18. Ben Alexander, 19. Tom Staniforth, 20. Jarrad Butler, 21. De Wet Roos, 22. Andrew Smith, 23. James Dargaville.

Reds team: 15. Lachlan Maranta, 14. Chris Kuridrani, 13. Samu Kerevi, 12. Duncan Paia'aua, 11. Eto Nabuli, 10. Jake McIntyre, 9. James Tuttle, 8. Scott Higginbotham, 7. George Smith, 6. Adam Korczyk, 5. Kane Douglas, 4. Rob Simmons, 3. Sam Talakai, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Sef Fa'agase. Reserves: 16. Alex Mafi, 17. Kirwan Sanday, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Izack Rodda, 20. Hendrik Tui, 21. Moses Sorovi, 22. Hamish Stewart, 23. Izaia Perese.