The ACT Brumbies have backed James Slipper to thrive in a new environment when the former Queensland skipper restarts his career on Friday.
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Slipper will be one of four new faces in the Brumbies squad for the clash against the Melbourne Rebels at Canberra Stadium and he will be playing his first Super Rugby game since May last year.
The 29-year-old has been plagued by injuries and off-field woes in the past two years, suspended for two months after twice testing positive to illicit drugs.
But the Brumbies have given him a fresh start and he will be thrown straight into the starting side while Scott Sio is eased back into duties.
Sio missed both pre-season games as part of a Wallabies workload management plan this year and Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said it was too risky to put him in the starting front row.
"I'd spoken to Scotty about it two weeks ago that that was my thinking and he understands," McKellar said.
"To go into the first game of the year, without any trial footy under his belt and start the game, would be a bit of risk.
"We've got two international-standard loosehead props and scrums are an area we think we can dominate. [Slipper] has a whole lot of experience. He doesn't talk a whole lot but, when he does, guys certainly listen."
Slipper played 104 games for Queensland before being on the outer last season. He joins Toni Pulu, Irae Simone and Pete Samu in making their Brumbies debut this week.
Pulu has won the race for one of the Brumbies spots and McKellar described him as one of the fastest players in the competition.
Simone will start at inside centre and will partner Christian Lealiifano in the halves, while Samu is on the bench behind Rob Valetini and Lachlan McCaffrey.
McKellar is keen to see what his new-look squad can produce after finishing last season with a flurry, winning four of the last six games of the year.
The game against the Rebels will be the start of their mission to get back into the finals after missing the play-offs last season.
The Rebels are stacked with Wallabies talent and are considered the favourite to win the Australian conference this year.
"The Rebels have a star-studded roster. They're a couple of internationals deep in most positions, so they're a good side," McKellar said.
"We can sit here and talk about the Rebels all day, but we've just got to worry about the Brumbies."
The Rebels beat the Brumbies in both matches last year and have added Quade Cooper to their starting side for the clash in the capital.
The Melbourne side has also picked former Brumbies Isi Naisarani and Robbie Abel in their team to return to Canberra.
SUPER RUGBY ROUND ONE
Friday: ACT Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm.
Brumbies: 1. James Slipper, 2. Folau Faingaa, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Sam Carter, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. David Pocock, 8. Lachlan McCaffrey, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Toni Pulu, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. Josh Mann-Rea, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Les Leuluaialii-Makin, 19. Blake Enever, 20. Pete Samu, 21. Matt Lucas, 22. Wharenui Hawera, 23. Andy Muirhead.
Rebels: 1. Tetera Faulkner, 2. Anaru Rangi, 3. Jermaine Ainsley, 4. Luke Jones, 5. Matt Philip, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Richard Hardwick, 8. Isi Naisarani, 9. Will Genia, 10. Quade Cooper, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Billy Meakes, 13. Tom English, 14. Jack Maddocks, 15. Dane Haylett-Petty. Reserves: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Matt Gibbon, 18. Sam Talakai, 19. Esei Haangana, 20. Brad Wilkin, 21. Rob Leota, 22. Michael Ruru, 23. Semisi Tupou.
