Former Wallabies skipper David Pocock has been promoted from the bench for the Brumbies Super Rugby clash with the Cheetahs on Saturday.
He is set to replace Ita Vaea in the backrow after coming off the bench since recovering from an ankle injury.
Brumbies forwards coach Dan McKellar confirmed Vaea's move to the bench for the Australian conference-leaders.
"It's certainly not a performance selection by any means, but we wanted to get 'Poey' back in the team, and for this week, we just feel that Ita can give us some real punch coming off the bench in the last 30 minutes," McKellar said.
Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani has been ruled out for up to two months with a shoulder injury, while towering lock, Rory Arnold remains in some doubt, still suffering complications with a lower back injury he picked up in the last-start loss to the NSW Waratahs.
McKellar said the Brumbies had taken a number of lessons out of that defeat.
"We've reviewed (the game), and we didn't play that well.
"You've got to give credit to the Waratahs, they played well and managed to get away with a few things in and around maul defence and those areas. But that's just part of the game.
"The important thing is we bounce back on Saturday night, and the attitude at training this week indicates that that will happen," he said.
The Brumbies announced that Arnold and Vaea have re-signed with the franchise for another two years.
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