The Canberra Times understands Brumbies coaching staff have deemed the veteran outside centre too much of an injury risk to travel to New Zealand.

Mortlock missed the second half of last weekend's 24-22 win over the Durban Sharks with a shoulder injury.

Scans have since cleared the 32-year-old of serious damage but he has been unable to train all week.

Tyrone Smith will replace him in the starting team to face the Blues.

Andrew Smith will come onto the bench to be in line to make his Super 14 debut.

Tyrone Smith was strong when replacing Mortlock at outside centre in the second half against the Sharks on Saturday night.

Mortlock, who will leave the Brumbies at the end of the season, now faces an uphill battle to regain the No13 jersey off his younger teammate.

Another solid performance from Smith in Auckland would create a selection headache for coach Andy Friend.

Mortlock's absence will be the only change in the Brumbies team that Friend will announce this morning.

It means Julian Huxley won't make his Super 14 comeback for at least another week.

For more on this story, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times.