Brumbies legend George Smith could be recognised with statue or stand at Canberra Stadium

GEORGE Smith is set to join an elite group of ACT legends in being permanently honoured with a statue or stand at Canberra Stadium.

GEORGE Smith will end a distinguished Brumbies career with a possible third Super Rugby title at the weekend but the flanker is set to join an elite group of ACT legends in being permanently honoured with a statue or stand at Canberra Stadium.

Agreement has been reached between the ACT government, Canberra Stadium and the Brumbies to "appropriately recognise" the stellar career of Smith, who will retire again after Saturday's Super Rugby final against the Chiefs in Hamilton.

The 2013 decider will be Smith's fourth final and his 141st Super game; both Brumbies record figures.

Brumbies CEO Andrew Fagan said Smith's status as the club's "greatest ever player" will see him honoured at Canberra Stadium in the same way as local icons Laurie Daley who is immortalised in a statue and Mal Meninga, George Gregan and Stephen Larkham, who all have stands bearing their surnames.

"The Brumbies and the ACT government, together with Canberra Stadium, have acknowledged that they will recognise George and his incredible contribution to rugby in the ACT and the Brumbies," Fagan said.

"The reason it hasn't been done is the stadium and the government is going through the process of determining whether we're going to get a brand new stadium built in the city, or they're going to upgrade the existing stadium.

"What we don't want to do is say we'll put up a plaque or something up here, when we could get a new stadium and name an entire stand after him. It is hoped those plans around a future stadium development will be finalised in the course of the next 12 months or so."

The ACT government is considering building a new 30,000-seat stadium on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin as part of a new development also featuring an urban beach and convention centre.

There has been speculation part of the Brumbies' new $15 million headquarters at the University of Canberra could be named after Smith but Fagan said the club's eight-time recipient players' player should be remembered at a more public facility.

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"There could well be something out there but I think the more likely and appropriate place would be the stadium," Fagan said.

"At our facility he might only get a meeting room or something, whereas the appropriate place would have to be alongside the Laurie Daley statue, the Mal Meninga Stand, the Gregan-Larkham Stand. It's appropriate that he's recognised among those other greats of Canberra sport."

Another five-star performance from Smith against the Bulls last weekend only confirmed the flanker's place among rugby's greats, according to coach Jake White.

"You just listen to the plaudits for him in South Africa, they rate him as one of the best players ever," White said.

"He's such a humble guy and he doesn't like all the razzamattaz. I have coached against him and coached him, and I can tell you he has to be one of the greatest ever."

The Brumbies held a recovery session at a school swimming pool on Tuesday, keen to freshen up after an arduous return journey from Africa.

White said he'd harked back to his experience as the winning coach of the 2007 Rugby World Cup to help his side remain focused.

"The lesson I have learned in playing these high profile games is you must do your first job and that's play rugby," he said.