Sio will start at loosehead prop, partnering Sefo Kautai and Lachlan Lonergan in the front-row as a new-look Super Rugby Pacific squad prepares to take on the Western Force in Perth.

Billy Pollard, Fred Kaihea and Tom Ross will be the front-row replacements, putting the onus on Sio to set the tone as the Brumbies chase a sixth consecutive win.

It doubles as a chance for Sio to prove his worth as he weighs up his contract options for 2023 and beyond amid concern he could be squeezed out of the Brumbies squad.

The 30-year-old has fallen out of favour at Test level, overlooked for last year's Spring Tour and left out of Wallabies coach Dave Rennie's squad for a planning camp next month.

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But Wallabies forwards coach and Brumbies mentor McKellar believes Sio has all the tools to bounce back to his best, confident the 69-Test veteran can deliver in the absence of veteran props James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa.

"I think that's why the decision was made to leave him out of the Spring Tour, to give him a full pre-season and to give him every chance to get back to his best," McKellar said.

"He's in the best condition I've seen him in in a long time. He's fit, lean, his flexibility, his mobility, you're really starting to see that and that transfers into his power at scrum time. There's some good signs there, really important that he delivers on Friday.

"I think Scotty has done some really good things off the bench for us. He's had one start already this year and was good. He's got the bit between the teeth and is really determined to lead from the front [on Friday] night.

"He's one of our senior players and we will need that from him."

Force centre Kyle Godwin has outlined a desire to be the team that ends the Brumbies' blitz, with McKellar's side sitting clear atop the standings with five wins from five games.

The Force looked as though they would pip the Brumbies in round one when they hit the lead in the 77^th minute.

But then Test-capped hooker Lonergan came steaming onto a Tom Wright pass, surging over the line at the death to break the visitors' hearts and ignite the Brumbies' winning run, which has put them in good stead leading into the first of four consecutive games on the road.

"That last game was a bit of a sore spot for us," Godwin said.

"We definitely had that win in our grasp and we let it slip in the last couple of minutes.

"We learnt a lot of lessons there, personally as well myself. Hopefully we can get one-up on them tomorrow night.

"They're undefeated this season and we want to be the team that knocks them off their perch."

SUPER RUGBY ROUND SIX

Friday: Western Force v ACT Brumbies at Perth Oval, 10pm. Broadcast live on Stan Sport.

Brumbies team: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Lachlan Lonergan, 3. Sefo Kautai, 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Nick Frost, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Rod Iona, 11. Andy Muirhead, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Tom Wright, 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. Billy Pollard, 17. Fred Kaihea, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Tom Hooper, 20. Rory Scott, 21. Nic White, 22. Hudson Creighton, 23. Jesse Mogg.

Force team: 1. Harrison Lloyd, 2. Feleti Kaitu'u (c), 3. Santiago Medrano, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. Izack Rodda, 6. Fergus Lee-Warner, 7. Kane Koteka, 8. Brynard Stander, 9. Ian Prior, 10. Jake McIntyre, 11. Manasa Mataele, 12. Bayley Kuenzle, 13. Kyle Godwin, 14. Toni Pulu, 15. Jake Strachan. Reserves: 16. Andrew Ready, 17. Bo Abra, 18. Greg Holmes, 19. Tim Anstee, 20. Ollie Callan, 21. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22. Reesjan Pasitoa, 23. Richard Kahui.

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