David Pocock and Henry Speight participated in some training drills on Tuesday but both are unlikely to play against the Waikato Chiefs at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

Toni Pulu will miss a large chunk of the season after having surgery to repair a fractured cheekbone, while Taliauli is hoping to recover from a knee injury in time for round two.

The walking wounded in the squad has given coach Dan McKellar some early-season selection headaches, but Pulu and Speight's absence opens the door for opportunity.

Peni missed 11 weeks of rugby last season after back to back suspensions for dangerous tackles, limiting him to just seven games in his first season in Canberra.

Taliauli has battled injuries for the past two years and played just eight games last year. Both Peni and Taliauli are desperate to make their mark, while Jordan Jackson-Hope could also emerge as a back-line injection.

The Brumbies lost their season-opener against the Melbourne Rebels last weekend, forced to scramble from the opening 10 minutes when they lost Pocock and Pulu.

But hooker Folau Faingaa is confident they can make amends for their errors when they play the Chiefs after making too many mistakes in round one.

"The result didn't come our way but the boys have parked that and are just worried about the week ahead," Faingaa said.

"[We pushed] 50-50 passes and didn't stick to our structures. It's an 80-minute game and unfortunately we only played for the first 20 [minutes]. So for us, it's focusing on getting the small stuff right."

The Brumbies had to get inventive with their back line when both Pulu and Speight left the field, shifting back-up flyhalf Wharenui Hawera to fullback and pushing Tom Banks to the wing.

Jackson-Hope played at inside centre during the National Rugby Championships, but the Brumbies view him as another fullback option he could get a chance against the Chiefs.

Peni scored three tries in his seven games last year and the former rugby league young gun is keen to restart his career after not playing Super Rugby since round 11 last year.

"Obviously it wasn't the ideal first year for Chance last season, but he's got immense talent he bring to the group," said prop Scott Sio.

"He's got that ability to beat someone one-on-one, that X-factor we need. Each of them half that individual X-factor, and Andy Muirhead was really good when he came on last week, too.

"It would be incredible to have Lausii back, but we've got to take the right steps with his knee injury. We want a fighting fit Lausii, not having him half ready. Especially with who we play against this week."

The Brumbies lost 13 games in a row against New Zealand teams until they beat the Wellington Hurricanes last year. But the joy was short-lived because the Chiefs beat the Brumbies the following week and ended the Canberra side's faint finals hopes.

SUPER RUGBY ROUND TWO

Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Waikato Chiefs at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.