Noah Lolesio and Cadeyrn Neville boost Brumbies squad for Highlanders battle in Super Round

But, more importantly, it gave injured players an extra week to recover, with Noah Lolesio and Cadeyrn Neville set to make their return on Sunday against the Otago Highlanders.

The fly-half has been sidelined with an ankle injury since round five.

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar confirmed Lolesio was a possibility during the side's 21-point victory over Fijian Drua but two things stopped them naming him.

"He's trained well, he was a possibility for the [Fijian] Drua game but we didn't want to risk him and Rod Iona performed well," McKellar said.

"So it's nice to have Noah back, fit and available."

Another boost to the starting XV for the Brumbies is the return of Cadeyrn Neville. The 33-year-old had been out with nerve damage to his shoulder since round one but will be back in Melbourne.

McKellar said the lock was due for a bit of luck.

"He's trained well, he's naturally a fit bloke, he's got a very good engine," he said.

"He's not going to be perfect on Sunday, he doesn't need to be, we just need a whole lot of energy and physicality and to be good around set pieces."

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Two key players will still be missing for the Brumbies in round 10. Allan Alaalatoa (disk in neck) and Tom Banks (fractured cheekbone) are still nursing injuries and will not feature in Sunday's match.

However, both are chances to make a return in round 11.

Brumbies lock Nick Frost was also un-characteristically not named in the Super Round squad. The 22-year-old has featured in every game this season, both as a starter and impact player off the bench, but Neville has reclaimed the number five jersey against the Highlanders and Tom Hooper has moved into second choice.

The Canberra side sit second on the ladder heading into the fixture, on equal points with the Auckland Blues.

But Sunday starts the uphill battle for the Brumbies against their New Zealand counterparts.

And they know what they have to do.

"If we don't front up physically and let them dominate the collisions, then we'll be in for a long day," McKellar said.

"We understand that there will be a real lift in intensity.

"We feel like we're in a good position, we're in reasonable health with a couple of bumps and bruises but we've got good depth throughout the squad and we feel we're ready to embrace the challenge that awaits."

Sunday: Otago Highlanders v ACT Brumbies in Melbourne, 2pm.

Brumbies team: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Lachlan Lonergan, 3. Sefo Kautai , 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Nic White (c), 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Andy Muirhead, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Cam Clark, 15. Tom Wright

Reserves: 16. Folau Fainga'a, 17. James Slipper, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Tom Hooper, 20. Luke Reimer, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Rod Iona, 23. Hudson Creighton.