The Brumbies could be without 307 games worth of Super Rugby experience for a showdown with the Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

Captain Allan Alaalatoa is staring down the barrel of a suspension after being red carded for an accidental high shot midway through a thrilling win over the Melbourne Rebels.

Connal McInerney managed little more than eight minutes before finishing his night in a moon boot with a nasty ankle injury while Folau Fainga'a [toe] and James Slipper [knee] missed the game through injury.

Fainga'a is seen as a chance to return to face the Reds, but another week on the sidelines could cast 21-year-old hooker Lachlan Lonergan into the starting team at hooker and bring uncapped youngster Billy Pollard onto the bench.

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Tom Ross will replace Alaalatoa in the starting line-up should he be suspended for his shot on Pone Fa'amausili, with 21-year-old Archer Holz the next in line for a spot on the bench.

The task of bringing down a Reds front-row headlined by rampaging Wallabies duo Taniela Tupou and Brandon Paenga-Amosa looms as no mean feat.

But the baby Brumbies are determined to rise to the occasion in a bid to maintain their side's unbeaten start to the season.

"I definitely wasn't expecting [to play 72 minutes against Melbourne]. It's not good to see Connal go down, everyone is pretty sad for him but it's part of the game," Lonergan said.

"It was a big shift, that's why you do pre-season though, just in case that does happen. I feel like I've done what I've needed, I'm confident in my game to be able to step up to fill that role if it's needed.

"We've got good depth in the hooker position, we've obviously got Billy Pollard and Lau who is a Wallaby. If I need to start, I'll do that and I'll be confident to do that.

"If it's me coming on for 20 minutes off the bench, I'm confident to do that as well. Either way, I'll be confident with whatever role I'll get."

Alaalatoa's absence would force coach Dan McKellar to call on a new captain with scrumhalf Nic White a likely candidate, while McKellar is confident his young guns will answer the call.

"When you give the players the reins that are young and new to this level, they've got the confidence and belief to do their job," McKellar said.

"That's why we're in a decent position as a football team, because everyone knows their role. We've got confidence in one to 23, and next week we will probably have to call on a couple of others and we'll back them to step up.

"The Reds are always going to be tough, a grand final replay on our home turf, we'll be up for it."

SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND FOUR

Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm. Broadcast: Live on Gem and Stan Sport. Tickets from Ticketek.

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