Dan McKellar will hand Reesjan Pasitoa the keys to the ACT Brumbies in the hope of showing the emerging playmaker "he well and truly belongs" at Super Rugby level.
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Pasitoa will start at flyhalf for a near full-strength Brumbies outfit in their lone pre-season trial against the Western Force at Viking Park on Tuesday night.
Wallabies young gun Noah Lolesio will come from the bench with the 90-minute match broken down into one 30-minute quarter and three blocks of 20 minutes.
It gives Pasitoa the chance to lead the Brumbies' attack as he hunts more Super Rugby minutes after a brief taste last year.
"It's just another step forward with his development in the early stages of his career," McKellar said.
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"It gives him some more confidence and belief to understand he well and truly belongs at this level. He'll get plenty of game time, which is what he needs, he just needs time in the saddle to experience playing at this level."
Wallabies trio James Slipper, Folau Fainga'a and skipper Allan Alaalatoa will start in the front row, while another pair of internationals in Rob Valetini and Pete Samu combine with Jahrome Brown to bolster a strong loose forward combination.
Len Ikitau will fill the void left by Tevita Kuridrani at outside centre, while Rod Iona gets a chance to push for a Super Rugby comeback in Irae Simone's absence at No. 12.
Nic White starts at scrumhalf while Tom Banks rounds out the 15, with McKellar's bench boasting a mix of Test caps, title winners and development players including John I Dent Cup flyers Corey Toole and Tom Haddad.
"We've only got one trial so we need to make sure we give the boys some minutes in a game situation before round one," McKellar said.
"That's our tact, certainly not holding anyone back for the most part. We'll give them a taste of it, it's another step in their preparation for February 19.
"I don't think they'll be showing a whole lot [ahead of round one]. You pick up bits and pieces but it is what it is. In the past we've played the [Melbourne] Rebels a couple of times and then had them in round one or round two.
"We'll just get on with it. February 19 is round one, it's a different level, a different story, the intensity goes up a whole lot. It's going to be a tough game for us over in Perth."
SUPER RUGBY AU TRIAL
Tuesday: ACT Brumbies v Western Force at Viking Park, 6pm.
ACT Brumbies squad: 1. James Slipper, 2. Folau Fainga'a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Nic White, 10. Reesjan Pasitoa, 11. Andy Muirhead, 12. Rod Iona, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Mack Hansen, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: Scott Sio, Harry Lloyd, Tom Ross, Connal McInerney, Lachlan Lonergan, Nick Frost, James Tucker, Tom Hooper, Luke Reimer, Rory Scott, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Ryan Lonergan, Junior Tupou, Reece Tapine, Noah Lolesio, Tom Haddad, Corey Toole.
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
