The scion should be stripped of the lower leaves to allow for the graft cuts and retaining four or more leaves above. This is over generous but allows for a recut if there is a bit of operator error and more leaves have to be stripped off the scion for a recut. Stripping the leaves may wound the scion stem too much depending on scion maturity and species so small snipping scissors may be needed to remove them, this is something that needs to be assessed especially with thinner scions of Proteas. (P. humiflora, P. odorata, P. mucronifolia, P. nana, etc.)
The scion stems can be harvested just before nightfall, stood in water and the grafts can be done the next morning, sugar water at 2% will help. This applies particularly to the silver mimeteses, but less to other Proteaceae although it would be good practice. My normal procedure about 30 minutes before grafting is to strip off the necessary leaves, trim 1 cm off the base and stand the stems immediately in a cup of water until they are grafted.
The root stock needs the topmost leaves stripped off, leaving the 2 lowest, and the top pruned off, allowing space for the vertical cuts plus the first binds of tape.