The Brumbies will play the Pretoria Bulls in a Super Rugby semi-final at 1am Sunday morning Canberra time with the winner advancing to the championship match next weekend.

And after some of the players got up close with some lion cubs on Friday morning, the squad got the perfect boost before kick-off when 12 players were picked in new coach Ewen McKenzie's first Wallabies squad.

Fijian flyer Tevita Kuridrani and journeyman Scott Fardy were the biggest shock inclusions and they'll be joined by rookies Scott Sio, Nic White and Matt Toomua.

Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Christian Lealiifano, Ben Mowen, Joseph Tomane, Jesse Mogg and Peter Kimlin round out the Brumbies contingent.

It marks a turnaround from two years ago when the Brumbies boasted just three Wallabies in the 35-man squad. It's also perfect timing with the announcement set to buoy the players ahead of their clash with the Bulls.

''We've certainly earned the right to be in the position we're in and then we speak about earning the next step,'' Brumbies captain Mowen said.

''We talk a lot of about making things happen. Internally we place a lot of value on a guy like Scott Fardy or Scott Sio … in time the Australian public will see that value they have for the Australian jersey as well.''

Surprise selection Kuridrani is in just his second year of Super Rugby. The Fijian, who is from the same village as Canberra Raiders try-scoring machine Noa Nadruku and dual international Lote Tuqiri, is shy and softly spoken.

Fardy, 29, joined the Brumbies last year after being spotted while playing in Japan. He feared his Super Rugby hopes had passed him by, but is now on the cusp of earning a Wallabies jersey.

Mowen, Lealiifano and Mogg all made their Wallabies debuts in the series against the British and Irish Lions.

Kimlin and Sio were part of the training squad while White was ruled out of selection contention with injury.

Toomua is widely regarded as Australia's strongest fly-half and will battle with Quade Cooper for the No.10 duties.

With the Wallabies' announcement looming, five of the Brumbies used their day off in Johannesburg to visit a lion park.

Toomua, White, Mogg, Ian Prior and Clyde Rathbone got up close with some lion cubs to take their minds off the coming task against the Bulls.

Soaking up the sun, the docile cubs barely acknowledged that the Brumbies were there as they relaxed in their enclosure. The encounter was a world away from the hostile and nasty welcome they expect to receive at Loftus Versfeld Stadium when the Bulls' passionate fans take aim at the visitors.

But Toomua said it was the perfect way to unwind before travelling to Pretoria where they will be greeted by an unforgiving crowd.

''We've put the little building blocks in place,'' Toomua said.

''Finals footy is about work rate, defending and kicking. I think our strength is that unified team.

''We scramble well in defence and there are a lot of things that go unnoticed but within the group that's what makes us a strong team.''