Brumbies pack out to make Super statement as Larkham makes shock changes

The Brumbies were beaten to the punch up front by the Waikato Chiefs a fortnight ago, the 46-12 loss leaving the side stinging and determined to avoid a repeat.

After a nervy 21-19 win over the Western Force on Saturday, the team will have its first chance to prove they won't be dominated by their New Zealand rivals since the Chiefs defeat.

Larkham has unveiled a new-look pack, naming an imposing backrow of Tom Hooper, Jahrome Brown and Rob Valetini.

Cadeyrn Neville will also return from a laceration suffered in a sickening hit late in the Waikato clash at lock alongside Nick Frost.

The front row has also been rejigged, with Blake Schoupp and Billy Pollard promoted to the starting side. James Slipper and Lachlan Lonergan were named on a bench also featuring Darcy Swain, Rory Scott and Rhys van Nek.

The starting backline remains unchanged, with Harrison Goddard replacing Klayton Thorn as the substitute scrumhalf.

"We're expecting a tough challenge this week with the forwards, particularly at scrum time," Larkham said. "We've identified they have a pretty good scrum and we want to be able to match that.

"What we face with all New Zealand teams is a physical game in the contact areas. The scrum will be a challenge, but they will also be strong around the field. The contact areas, ball carries and the breakdown are going to be hotly contested."

The changes for Saturday's clash in Dunedin come on the back of an unsteady start to the Super Rugby season.

The side has struggled to produce their best football and new attacking and defensive systems are taking time to perfect.

The season, however, is a long one and Larkham knows he must ensure the full squad is healthy and has regular game time under their belts before the finals.

The coach has taken a different approach to load management this year, free from the shackles of restrictive Rugby Australia rules leading into the World Cup.

Rather than making wholesale changes that ultimately proved costly late in the campaign, Larkham is eager rotate his players regularly, with this weekend the first opportunity to do so.

"We're four games in now, we have to be smart," Larkham said.

"We've run nearly the same team for three weeks in a row, with just Darcy coming back last week.

"We've been thinking about this and the long-term projections with our squad, we want to make sure we're not burning any one person out."

ACT Brumbies Super W coach Scott Fava has also named his team for the side's season opener against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney.

Captain Siokapesi Palu will line up at blindside flanker after making the switch during last year's Wallaroos campaign, with fellow Australian teammate Tabua Tuinakauvadra starting at No.8.

Youngsters Jay Huriwai and Faitala Moleka will combine in the halves, and Ashlea Bishop has been named at fullback.

The match will be played at the Sydney Football Stadium at 5.05pm prior to the Waratahs' Super Rugby clash with the Auckland Blues.