ACT Brumbies recall local junior Harry Lloyd with James Slipper out of Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby AU clash

A minor ankle complaint picked up against the Western Force a fortnight ago will keep Slipper sidelined until a round eight clash with the NSW Waratahs.

It means Harry Lloyd will come off the bench for the Brumbies against the Melbourne Rebels in a Super Rugby AU clash at Leichhardt Oval on Friday.

The 25-year-old loosehead prop joins a host of Canberra juniors on Dan McKellar's bench alongside Tom Ross, Mack Hansen, Connal McInerney, and Ryan Lonergan.

McKellar dubs Lloyd a "powerful loosehead prop who can be destructive at scrum time" - hardly music to the ears of their Rebels rivals.

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Because Dave Wessels' side already has to contend with an all star front-row boasting Allan Alaalatoa, Scott Sio and Folau Fainga'a before a trio of Canberra juniors enter the fray, eager to pick up where their mentors left off.

"They're the best coaches aren't they? We're fortunate to have world class front-rowers with a whole lot of experience," McKellar said.

"Being able to scrummage with and against them, being able to review it together and ask questions of those guys, you learn plenty. It's a good place to be if you're a young, up and coming prop.

"They've been really good. Unfortunately Tommy didn't get any game time last week but he has been excellent in the limited time he has had this year, and Lloydy is a very good scrummager. He'll play an important role in the conditions we're expecting up in Balmain.

"We've had a big month so it's a good opportunity to provide some opportunity for guys to have a rest and get some guys some game time. We've got a 37-man mindset."

Slipper is one of two players forced out of the Rebels clash due to injury with the competition's form winger Tom Wright rested to manage niggling ankle and rib issues.

Wright's absence sees Andy Muirhead return to the starting side with Len Ikitau granted an opportunity off the bench.

Tom Cusack will take his place in the Brumbies' starting XV as Will Miller shuffles back to the bench, while Tuggeranong product Lonergan is set for his first match in nearly five months after overcoming an ankle injury.

"That's something we undersell a little bit, the amount of good young players we have produced over the past four or five years," McKellar said.

"One of them [Hansen] stood up last week and had a special moment within his career. Lloydy is another good young local, Tommy Ross is the same.

"As a club, we're certainly providing opportunity for local Canberrans and young men that want to play professionally in the ACT. The boys are showing that."

The Rebels have made four changes to their match day 23, with Andrew Deegan to take the reins at flyhalf and Matt To'omua shifting to inside centre.

"Expecting them to kick a lot, I think you can see through the selection, Deegan at 10 and Pup at 12. You'd think there would be a lot of kick return counterattack opportunity," McKellar said.

SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND SIX

Friday: Melbourne Rebels v ACT Brumbies at Leichhardt Oval, 7.05pm.

Brumbies: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga'a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Nick Frost, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Tom Cusack, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Bayley Kuenzle, 11. Andy Muirhead, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Solomone Kata, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. Harry Lloyd, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Will Miller, 20. Ben Hyne, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Mack Hansen, 23. Len Ikitau.

Rebels: 1. Cameron Orr, 2. Jordan Uelese, 3. Jermaine Ainsley, 4. Matt Philip, 5. Trevor Hosea, 6. Josh Kemeny, 7. Brad Wilkin, 8. Isi Naisarani, 9. Frank Lomani, 10. Andrew Deegan, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Matt To'omua, 13. Campbell Magnay, 14. Andrew Kellaway, 15. Reece Hodge. Replacements: 16. Efi Ma'afu, 17. Cabous Eloff, 18. Pone Fa'amausili, 19. Michael Stolberg, 20. Richard Hardwick, 21. Rob Leota, 22. James Tuttle, 23. Billy Meakes.