ACT Brumbies rookie Lachie Albert set to fill the boots of Wallabies star Nic White in Super Rugby debut

The Canberra Times can reveal Albert will take his place on the Brumbies' bench for a clash with the Western Force at Perth Oval on Friday night.

The former Australian Schoolboys scrumhalf travelled to Perth as cover in case White didn't make the trip, with the Wallabies star ultimately opting to stay home as wife Melissa gave birth to their third boy. Stand-in captain Ryan Lonergan will start in the No. 9 jersey.

Albert knew he was in with a chance to make his debut when he was standing in the kitchen of his Canberra home on Wednesday morning and his phone started ringing. It was Brumbies coach Dan McKellar.

"I was actually just at home, like any normal morning. I was in the kitchen and got the call from Dan. My housemates Billy Pollard and Harry Vella were there and asked for a thumbs up or thumbs down while I was on the phone," Albert said.

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"It was a thumbs up and they started screaming, even Dan was telling them to calm down on the other end of the phone. We're over here to do a job on the Force. We're five from five for a reason.

"I had a big chat with Whitey early on in the week, just getting my head around everything. He told me to just be ready to go whenever.

"He's been in my ear for the past four to five months even when he's been away with Wallabies. He said 'you've been waiting for a chance for two years ... you're ready to go'.

"Whitey has been awesome for me. His knowledge and understanding of the game having played in England and France, he's a very knowledgeable man."

Albert admits "it's been a bit of a weird week". He walked into training early in the week knowing he was a chance to make his debut as the White family waited for the arrival of their third boy.

Even after McKellar called he had to keep his looming debut something of a secret. His parents knew. Mum was umming and ahhing about making the trip so soon after she underwent knee surgery, but Albert's parents have made the mad dash across the country.

His brother stayed home. Something about his studies, Albert reckons, joking he's "not quite sure what's doing there".

Regardless of where they're watching from, Albert knows the family will be proud.

There were times he could almost be forgiven if he felt like throwing his toys out of the cot. He slaved away at training, challenged with the task of banging on the door for selection while patiently biding his time.

He's been stuck behind a Wallabies scrumhalf in White and another who spent months in Australian camp last year in Lonergan - the man who will captain the Brumbies against the Force in the absence of Allan Alaalatoa this week.

So just about every week while White and Lonergan pulled on the Brumbies jersey, Albert would shuffle back into the John I Dent Cup with Wests.

Now, after waiting in the wings for more than two years, one of Australian rugby's hidden gems finally gets his chance.

"To be honest it's just business as usual. I know a lot of the boys over here [in Perth] from the Brumbies and coming through the system of Australian rugby," Albert said.

"After the game it will sink in then, that I've done something to make my family proud. Getting out there and making them proud is on my mind."

SUPER RUGBY ROUND SIX

Friday: Western Force v ACT Brumbies at Perth Oval, 10pm. Broadcast live on Stan Sport.

Brumbies team: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Lachlan Lonergan, 3. Sefo Kautai, 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Nick Frost, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Rod Iona, 11. Andy Muirhead, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Tom Wright, 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. Billy Pollard, 17. Fred Kaihea, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Tom Hooper, 20. Rory Scott, 21. Lachie Albert, 22. Hudson Creighton, 23. Jesse Mogg.

Force team: 1. Harrison Lloyd, 2. Feleti Kaitu'u (c), 3. Santiago Medrano, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. Izack Rodda, 6. Fergus Lee-Warner, 7. Kane Koteka, 8. Brynard Stander, 9. Ian Prior, 10. Jake McIntyre, 11. Manasa Mataele, 12. Bayley Kuenzle, 13. Kyle Godwin, 14. Toni Pulu, 15. Jake Strachan. Reserves: 16. Andrew Ready, 17. Bo Abra, 18. Greg Holmes, 19. Tim Anstee, 20. Ollie Callan, 21. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22. Reesjan Pasitoa, 23. Richard Kahui.

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