Dan McKellar knows Tevita Kuridrani is a big out. Perhaps even more so when he joins another two Wallabies on the shelf as one of nine changes to the ACT Brumbies' starting XV.
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But the Brumbies coach is quick to point out he has a massive in to fill the No. 13 jersey in a Super Rugby AU blockbuster against the NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.
That big in is Solomone Kata - the 104 kilogram wrecking ball who will shift from the wing to outside centre with Kuridrani joining Folau Fainga'a [calf] and Joe Powell [rested] on the sideline.
"He's the sort of bloke, if you're defending him, you're hoping he passes it," McKellar said.
"I'm really excited to see him at 13, just a step closer in to the footy. He'll get more ball in his hands. He'll create some havoc.
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"Tev's played a lot of rugby, if he goes down with one or two weeks to go? Who is our next option? It's a tricky competition this year, we don't have club rugby where guys can go and get some game time.
"There's no A games, so we've got to be smart. The last thing we want to do is get to the end of the season, and all of a sudden you've got a couple of injuries and guys haven't played footy at all or they've played dribs and drabs."
In come James Slipper [prop], Murray Douglas, Cadeyrn Neville [both second row], Lachlan McCaffrey [flanker], Tom Wright [wing], Lachlan Lonergan and Nic White [both bench].
Out go Fainga'a, Powell, Kuridrani, Nick Frost and Mack Hansen.
Four players who started against the Rebels in round six will move back to the bench against the Waratahs, with those being Scott Sio, Darcy Swain, Rob Valetini and Tom Cusack.
"I've never made 16 changes, but I don't look at it as changes, I've picked a team to beat the Waratahs this week," McKellar said.
"Changing combinations, that's how externally it might be viewed, but we train together every day of the week. These boys know each other well. It's an exciting team."
Connal McInerney will start at hooker at the expense of Fainga'a - who would be suiting up if this game were a final, with McKellar adamant all changes were made to manage workloads or injuries.
There are some guys there who have just demanded to be selected to be honest.
- Brumbies coach Dan McKellar
Powell has been rotated out of the squad with young gun Ryan Lonergan to start at scrumhalf, while Nic White is set to make his Super Rugby return off the bench.
The competition's form winger Wright returns to the starting side after re-signing with the Brumbies this week, joining Tom Banks and Andy Muirhead in the back three.
Douglas and Neville will join forces in the second row, while McCaffrey joins Will Miller and Pete Samu in the back row.
Former Junior Wallabies teammates Lonergan and Bayley Kuenzle link up in the halves, while Ryan's brother Lachlan Lonergan has forced his way back into the 23.
McKellar has opted for six forwards on the bench, with only two players who came off the pine against Melbourne remaining - Tom Ross and Len Ikitau.
"It's forward-heavy, there are some guys there who have just demanded to be selected to be honest, through their performance," McKellar said.
"They've won two games in a row so they're world-beaters again and full of confidence according to most. They'll play side to side rugby and we'll certainly look to put them under pressure.
"We've had a really good seven weeks at the beginning of the year and we have been okay since the start of Super Rugby AU, but there is a determination for us to take our game to another level."
SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND EIGHT
Saturday: ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.
Brumbies squad: 1. James Slipper, 2. Connal McInerney, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Murray Douglas, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Lachlan McCaffrey, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Bayley Kuenzle, 11. Tom Wright, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Solomone Kata, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Darcy Swain, 20. Rob Valetini, 21. Tom Cusack, 22. Nic White, 23. Len Ikitau.
Waratahs squad: 1. Tom Robertson, 2. Tom Horton, 3. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 4. Ned Hanigan, 5. Rob Simmons (c), 6. Lachie Swinton, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Jack Dempsey, 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Will Harrison, 11. Alex Newsome, 12. Karmichael Hunt, 13. Joey Walton, 14. James Ramm, 15. Jack Maddocks. Replacements: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Te Tera Faulkner, 19. Tom Staniforth, 20. Hugh Sinclair, 21. Mitch Short, 22. Ben Donaldson, 23. Lalakai Foketi.
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports journalist for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports journalist for The Canberra Times.
