Forgotten Wallaby Sam Carter will play for the Vikings in a National Rugby Championship grand final re-match against Brisbane City at Ballymore on Sunday.

The Wallabies' lineout has struggled in the first two games of the Rugby Championship, with a success rate of just 69 per cent.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has axed Brumbies flanker Scott Fardy from the line-up to promote Dean Mumm while leaving Carter to prove his credentials in the NRC.

Carter won the most lineouts of any Australian lock during the Super Rugby season, tallying 64 compared to Mumm's 45.

The Wallabies' starting locks for their Test against South Africa, Kane Douglas and Adam Coleman, grabbed 12 and 47 lineouts respectively. Douglas played just three games after recovering from a knee injury.

The Brumbies, led by Carter as the set-piece general, had a 90 per cent lineout success rate during the Super Rugby season. Carter also had the fifth best individual lineout statistics for the entire Super Rugby competition.

But instead of being rewarded, Carter has been overlooked and will bolster the Vikings side as it aims for grand final redemption.

The Vikings were thrashed by the NSW Country Eagles last week 60-28 in a shock result, prompting coach Wayne Southwell to describe the performance as embarrassing.

Wallabies winger Henry Speight will join the bench while the Vikings are scouring club rugby ranks to find another lock after Rory Arnold was called on to the Test bench.

"It was more than bad, it was embarrassing and that's been addressed this week. We trained really well and there's been a complete turnaround in attitude," Southwell said.

"There was a lack of energy and urgency at the start against the Rams, but I'm confident that will turnaround this week.

"It was an embarrassment to us and our supporters but it's better to happen now than later in the season."

Southwell has shifted Robbie Coleman into the flyhalf role as one of seven changes to the side.

Coleman will step into the No. 10 duties with young gun Nick Jooste moving back to the bench.

Coleman has spent most of his Super Rugby career as a winger or fullback, but looms as an option to step up as a Brumbies playmaker next year.

"Robbie is keen to have a run at No. 10 and we're keen to have a look at him there," Southwell said.

"He's played a lot of junior football there and I think was inside centre for the Australian under-20s. He's played a lot of footy there and he's keen so I think it will give us a good option."

NRC ROUND 3

Sunday: Brisbane City v Canberra Vikings at Ballymore, 1pm.

Vikings team: 15. Isaac Thompson, 14. Andrew Robinson, 13. Andrew Smith, 12. Jordan Jackson-Hope, 11. Lausii Taliauli, 10. Robbie Coleman, 9. Brent Hamlin, 8. OJ Noa, 7. Dean Oakman-Hunt, 6. Tom Staniforth, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Blake Enever, 3. Les Leuluaialii-Makin, 2. Robbie Abel, 1. Sione Taula. Reserves: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. Faalelei Sione, 18. Ray Dobson, 19. TBC, 20. Jarrad Butler, 21. Joe Powell, 22. Nick Jooste, 23. Henry Speight.