ACT Brumbies prop Dan Palmer will miss out on a last chance to impress Wallabies coach Robbie Deans after being ruled out of the clash against the NSW Waratahs on Saturday night.
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The Brumbies have named their team for the arch-rival battle at ANZ Stadium.
Hard-nosed scrummager Palmer is a big-name absentee while lock Scott Fardy returns to the starting XV for the first time since March after overcoming an ankle injury.
In the other changes, Scott Sio replaces Palmer in the front row, Peter Kimlin moves to blindside flanker, Fotu Auelua shifts to the bench and South African Ruan Smith will earn his first Brumbies cap as the back-up prop.
Palmer’s absence is a massive blow with Deans to name a 25-man Wallabies squad on Sunday.
Palmer would have battled with Wallabies front-rower Benn Robinson to show Deans he’s capable of taking on the Lions in June and July.
The front-row battle will go a long way to deciding Wallabies spots.
Brumbies Ben Alexander and Stephen Moore are established Test stars while the Waratahs also boast plenty of international experience in Robinson, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Sekope Kepu.
Palmer also missed the Brumbies’ win against the Western Force on April 27 to give him a chance to rest a foot injury.
Rising star Sio will get a chance to push his Test claims when he gets another opportunity in the starting side.
The 21-year-old was a shock inclusion at a Wallabies logistics camp in Sydney last month and a strong performance could launch him into calculations for the Lions series.
The Brumbies are still at the top of the Super Rugby ladder and will be aiming to keep their lead after having a bye last weekend.
The Waratahs are 11 points adrift of the Brumbies on the table, but a win would put them right in finals contention with only five regular season games remaining.
The game will also give Deans a perfect indication to who he should pick for Wallabies spots with individual battles across the field.
Two of the biggest match ups will be star flankers George Smith taking on Michael Hooper and the battle for the fullback spot could come down to who wins the battle of Jesse Mogg and Israel Folau.Super Rugby round 14
Saturday night: ACT BRUMBIES v NSW WARATAHS at ANZ Stadium, 7.40pm
BRUMBIES
1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore
3. Ben Alexander
4. Scott Fardy
5. Sam Carter
6. Peter Kimlin
7. George Smith
8. Ben Mowen
9. Nic White
10. Matt Toomua
11. Joseph Tomane
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Henry Speight
15. Jesse Mogg
RESERVES
16. Siliva Siliva
17. Ruan Smith
18. Fotu Auelua
19. Colby Faingaa
20. Ian Prior
21. Pat McCabe
22. Robbie Coleman
