Banks has been named at fullback after recovering from a fractured cheekbone in time for the ACT Brumbies' clash with the Wellington Hurricanes at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.

The 27-year-old returns to the fold after weeks of conjecture regarding his future following revelations he has been offered an eye-watering $2.8 million deal in Japan.

Banks' comeback pushes Tom Wright back onto the wing, with Cam Clark falling out of the 23. Nic White will take the captaincy reins again after Allan Alaalatoa was ruled out with a neck injury.

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar says Banks has been desperate to return to the fray after shattering his cheekbone in a collision with Western Force winger Toni Pulu last month.

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"He's champing at the bit. He was keen to play last week but medically we had to make sure we do the right thing and allow that injury to heal," McKellar said.

"It's well and truly healed. He's been training, we've just kept him out of contact, so he is well and truly ready to go. He was in pretty good form wasn't he, before the unfortunate incident over there in Perth.

"He's just a threat with ball in hand, obviously his speed, very good under the high ball, and helps us score a couple of maul tries as well with his ability to put the ball in the corner. It's good to have him back.

"He hasn't had a whole lot of injuries, [he's] pretty durable. He's had the one in Brisbane last year against South Africa and then over in Perth which was just unlucky really. He's excited to be back in a Brumbies jersey and he normally plays well for us."

Rod Iona comes out of the 23 with Ollie Sapsford joining the bench as McKellar opts for a settled squad to face the sixth-placed Hurricanes in one of the Brumbies' toughest assignments of the year to date.

Alaalatoa [neck] and lock Nick Frost [knee] are pushing for selection for a trip to face the Waikato Chiefs in Hamilton in round 12.

McKellar says Alaalatoa still has boxes to tick but is planning on a comeback against the Chiefs, trusting Sefo Kautai and Tom Ross to fill the void in a battle with the Hurricanes.

"[They've been] superb. Sef's work rate is phenomenal for a tighthead prop. He's got himself in the best shape he has ever been in and off the back of it, he has a lot of high-quality involvements," McKellar said.

"Trossy has been really good as well, he has done some work on his scrum and is starting to find that consistency he had last year before he got injured."

SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC ROUND 11

Sunday: ACT Brumbies v Wellington Hurricanes at Canberra Stadium, 2pm. Tickets from Ticketek. Broadcast on Stan Sport.

Brumbies team: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Lachlan Lonergan, 3. Sefo Kautai, 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Nic White (c), 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Andy Muirhead, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Tom Wright. 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. Folau Fainga'a, 17. James Slipper, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Tom Hooper, 20. Luke Reimer, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Hudson Creighton, 23. Ollie Sapsford.

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