Rests for All Blacks Ethan de Groot and Aaron Smith see changes in the front row and at 9, other changes to the forward pack see Shannon Frizell starting at lock, James Lentjes on the blindside and Saula Ma’u at tighthead prop.
The Highlanders lost locks Will Tucker and Pari Pari Parkinson leading into last week’s match against the Chiefs and they remain unavailable for this week. On top of that, young Otago lock Fabian Holland was forced from the field in the first half with a serious hamstring injury. Head Coach, Clarke Dermody, has responded by shifting Frizell to lock, a position he is not unfamiliar with and including an extra loose forward in the form of Marino Mikaele-Tu’u on the bench.
In the backs, Folau Fakatava will start and James Arscott comes into the reserves. Jona Nareki gets a left-wing starting spot after a couple of cameos off the bench and Jonah Lowe returns to the 23. Freddie Burns is again preferred ahead of Mitch Hunt after a solid showing against the Chiefs and Connor Garden-Bachop moves to fullback to replace the rested Sam Gilbert who has played over 700 minutes so far this season.
Highlanders v Brumbies – 4:35pm NZT (2:35pmAEST), Sunday 14 May, GIO Stadium, Canberra
1. Daniel Lienert-Brown
2. Andrew Makalio
3. Saula Ma’u
4. Shannon Frizell
5. Josh Dickson
6. James Lentjes
7. Billy Harmon (C)
8. Hugh Renton
9. Folau Fakatava
10. Freddie Burns
11. Jona Nareki
12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen
13. Fetuli Paea
14. Scott Gregory
15. Connor Garden-Bachop
Reserves: 16. Rhys Marshall 17. Ayden Johnstone 18. Jermaine Ainsley 19 Marino Mikaele-Tu'u 20. Sean Withy 21. James Arscott 22. Mitch Hunt 23. Jonah Lowe