if ($macs[1] =~ /(\S{17})\|(\S{17})/) {
    my ($mac1, $mac2) = ($1, $2);
    ...
    $mac1 =~ s/.../etc/g;
    $mac2 =~ s/as/needed/g;
    ...
    do_something_with($mac1, $mac2);
    ...
    }