ACT Brumbies coach Jake White has put his faith in a tall and mobile back row after blockbusting No 8 Fotu Auelua was ruled out of the team's crucial clash with the Western Force on Saturday night.
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Captain Ben Mowen will shift to the back of the scrum with Peter Kimlin starting at blindside flanker.
While the Brumbies will miss Auelua's power running game, what they lack in Samoan power they will gain in height with Mowen and Kimlin both strong lineout jumpers.
The Brumbies will need the extra height in the lineout to combat inspirational Force lock Nathan Sharpe, who is playing his last game in Perth before he retires.
The only other change from the Brumbies team which beat the Melbourne Rebels at the start of June is Henry Speight returning to the starting XV to replace the injured Joseph Tomane.
Speight will join Jesse Mogg on the wings with Robbie Coleman moving to fullback.
The Brumbies are five points clear at the top of the Australian conference with just three games remaining in the regular season.
If they can stay at the top of the conference, they will be guaranteed a finals berth for the first time since winning the championship in 2004.
BRUMBIES
1. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 3. Dan Palmer, 4. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 6. Peter Kimlin, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Ben Mowen, 9. Nic White, 10. Zack Holmes, 11. Jesse Mogg, 12. Pat McCabe, 13. Andrew Smith, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Robbie Coleman.
Reserves: 16. Anthony Hegarty, 17. Ruaidhri Murphy, 18. Leon Power, 19. Ita Vaea, 20. Ian Prior, 21. Tevita Kuridrani, 22. Cam Crawford.
FORCE
Force: 1. Pek Cowan, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Salesi Maafu, 4. Toby Lynn, 5. Nathan Sharpe, 6. Richard Brown, 7. David Pocock, 8. Matt Hodgson, 9. Josh Holmes, 10. Ben Seymour, 11. Napolioni Nalaga, 12. Rory Sidey, 13. Will Tupou, 14. Nick Cummins, 15. Alfie Mafi.
Reserves: 16. Elvis Taione, 17. Tetera Faulkner, 18. Salesi Manu, 19. Phoenix Battye, 20. Lachlan McCaffrey, 21. Brett Sheehan, 22. David Harvey.
