Wallabies lock Adam Coleman is back in the Melbourne Rebels starting side as they look to shut down one of the Brumbies' main try-scoring plays in their Super Rugby showdown at AAMI Park on Friday night.
After missing their round-one win over the Brumbies in Canberra with a calf injury, Coleman has relegated Luke Jones to the bench for the return clash.
He's one of four changes to the starting 15 from their win over the Highlanders on Friday, with prop Matt Gibbon, hooker Robbie Abel and flanker Rob Leota all named to make their first start.
Melbourne coach Dave Wessels said the Brumbies line-out, led by Rory Arnold and Blake Enever, was a major strength.
"We know the Brumbies score the majority of their tries from lineouts," Wessels said on Wednesday.
"With Adam coming back in, we want to make it difficult for them to win the ball in the first instance and put some pressure on their throw, and secondly we've done a lot of work in our maul defence."
Wessels said their analysis showed that they could exploit the Brumbies' athletic capacity.
"There was quite a significant difference in the game that the Brumbies won (against the Highlanders) - their ball in play time was seven minutes less than the Hurricanes game (which they lost)," Wessels said.
"They are a team that probably doesn't want ball in play as much as we do so we will try to keep the tempo going and put some pressure on them and use our athletic capacity which we think is a strength."
Test back Reece Hodge remains among the reserves with Melbourne's backline unchanged as they look to keep their unbeaten record intact.
Wessels said Hodge being left out was a show of the form of their backs.
"It's probably just a reflection of Tom English and Billy Meakes doing a good job for us in the midfield," Wessels said.
"Hodgey is doing everything in his power but the other guys are working hard to keep their spots too."
REBELS: Dane Haylett-Petty, Jack Maddocks, Tom English, Billy Meakes, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Isi Naisarani, Brad Wilkin, Rob Leota, Matt Philip, Adam Coleman, Sam Talakai, Robbie Abel, Matt Gibbon. Res: Anaru Rangi, Tetera Faulkner, Jermaine Ainsley, Luke Jones, Ross Haylett-Petty, Richard Hardwick, Michael Ruru, Reece Hodge.
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