Pocock-Hooper duo is Australia's strongest - Larkham

Australian backs coach Stephen Larkham says the combination of Dave Pocock and Michael Hooper is the strongest possible for their opening Rugby World Cup clash against Fiji.

Ranked second the world, the Wallabies will go into the clash as favourites on paper, and Larkham believes the team is well prepared having analysed Fiji's performance against England on Friday.

Pocock and Hooper's best position is openside flanker but the former will play number eight against Fiji, similar to how the duo worked together in Australia's win against New Zealand to clinch the Rugby Championship in August.

"We've had a really good preparation. The Rugby Championship was really the first time we had been together as a team on the field and we are pretty happy with that performance," said Larkham.

"We knew from there we had a bit of work to do and I think the camp over in America and the ten days we have had here have been really beneficial for the team.

"We have had a couple of combinations throughout the year, and they [Pocock and Hooper] have certainly played in those combinations through Super Rugby. But we have been chopping and changing combinations since we've come together before the Rugby Championship.

"This is the best combination for this weekend and those guys, certainly during training have been put together and have done a fantastic job. Their communication is spot on and the connection is spot on."

Hooper says he is excited to line-up alongside Pocock in the Wallabies' back row for their opener in Cardiff on Wednesday. "Looking forward to running around with Dave [Pocock] and all the rest of the guys," Hooper said. "It's a great venue - Millenium Stadium looks great.

"It [the combination with Pocock] developed pretty naturally, we had nothing to go off previously - a couple off the bench - whether it was myself or him working together.

"It was pretty good and it worked that night nicely I guess and now we are looking forward to getting more time out there to develop the roles further."