But while spots are up for grabs, White insists talk of a blockbuster Wallabies selection battle with the NSW Waratahs is ''immaterial'' and urged Test coach Robbie Deans to avoid using one match as a measuring stick.

Brumbies prop Dan Palmer will miss a last chance to impress Deans in the derby match at ANZ Stadium as he continues to manage the foot injury which has plagued him the past two seasons.

The battle between ACT and NSW will help Deans put together his Test puzzle before naming his 25-man squad on Sunday.

Palmer is in contention to be one of the the Wallabies props but he will miss a golden opportunity to show his scrumming prowess as the Brumbies square off against an all-Wallabies front row in Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Paddy Ryan.

Palmer's absence will throw rising star Scott Sio into a Wallabies front-row duel.

Sio and Palmer were part of an 11-strong Brumbies contingent invited to a Wallabies logistics camp last month.

All eight of the Waratahs starting forwards boast international experience. The Brumbies have just six players in their 22-man squad who have played for the Wallabies.

With Deans set to select tried and tested Test players, White conceded his new generation might have to bide their time.

''Maybe we don't get as many players in the [Wallabies squad] now, but that's based on the fact Robbie has said he wants to pick experienced players and I understand that,'' White said.

''If that means younger players who haven't got Test experience lose out, that's the way it is.

''But I don't want to talk too much about the Wallabies because that detracts away from what we're doing. [The Wallabies] is immaterial in terms of us going forward.''

Palmer has missed two of the past three games with injury, but White didn't think his absence would cost him a Wallabies berth.

''I don't think it will affect [his Wallabies chances].

''If he does get picked it will be because of what's happened this season, not what he's done in the last two weeks.''

The Brumbies and Waratahs are preparing for one of the most crucial matches between the teams in recent seasons.

A Brumbies victory would keep them at the top of the ladder and all but end the Waratahs' late-season charge to the play-offs.

A Waratahs win would put the Brumbies in a battle to claim top spot in the Australian conference.

White admitted the pressure was growing with only five regular season games remaining before the finals.

''We put our destiny in other teams' hands last season and all seven results we needed didn't go our way. We have to control our own destiny,'' White said.

''There will be pressure … one of the things we talk about is we can't control pressure.

''But we'd rather be in our position looking down than looking up.''

The Brumbies have made just two personnel changes to their team. Palmer's absence means Sio joins established Wallabies Ben Alexander and Stephen Moore in the front row.

Lock Scott Fardy returns to Super Rugby after six weeks on the sideline with a foot injury.

Fardy made his comeback in club rugby last weekend and will be added straight into the starting XV. His return means Peter Kimlin moves to blindside flanker and Fotu Auelua drops back to the bench.

''I'm confident I'll be able to be out there for 80 [minutes],'' Fardy said. ''It's hard being out and it's difficult to watch.

''We've [in the second row] got to step up this week, the Waratahs have big and powerful locks so we've got to stick to our strengths.''