Quade Cooper knocked his pre-season boxing opponent out in the first round and he’s hoping his rugby demons have gone down for the count as well.

Ironically it’s taken another sport to breathe the life back into Cooper’s Wallabies ambitions and the Queensland star is looking to maintain momentum with a points victory over Brumbies No.10 Matt Toomua in Saturday night’s opening Super Rugby clash in Canberra.

Cooper’s rugby prospects were left in a mire of doubt and controversy last season when he described the Wallabies’ team environment as “toxic”.

His decision to follow best mate Sonny Bill Williams into the ring was panned as a sideshow rather than an intelligent way to refocus on rugby just two weeks out from the start of the season.

The dynamic five-eighth hasn’t played a proper match since September last year when the Wallabies got out of jail against Argentina on the Gold Coast.

More of a concern is Cooper hasn’t been in form since 2011 when the Reds won the competition.

But Cooper’s emphatic defeat of Barry Dunnett in Brisbane on February 8 has put a spring back in his step.

The unique discipline of boxing has him as fit and energised.

“It’s been a great building block,” Cooper told Fox Sports’ Rugby HQ of his different pre-season.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity of gaining back my spot in the Wallabies and it’s a big year ahead with the Lions.”

Queensland director of coaching Ewen McKenzie declared Cooper would be ready for Saturday night’s blockbuster and said the onus was on Brumbies’ playmakers Toomua and Christian Lealiifano to step up.

Five-eighth Toomua and N.12 Lealiifano are also on the Wallabies radar, but are on the comeback from serious injury – something Cooper is only too familiar with.

McKenzie said the midfield battle between Cooper and the ACT pair would be crucial.

“I think the delivery of the game plan will be pretty important,” McKenzie said.

“I can only speak for Quade because he’s done a really good job for me over my time. Taking a set of tactics out onto the field and making them happen on the field.

“It’s up to (Toomua and Lealiifano) to deliver too.

“We’re confident where Quade is and they’ve got to deliver too. I’ll be interested to see who can do it.”