Lock Dan Vickerman has won the early battle to replace Wallaby David Giffin in the Brumbies line-up for the opening Super 12 clash against Queensland on Saturday.

The former South African Super 12 representative will pack down with Wallaby Justin Harrison with David Pusey starting on the bench.

Vickerman, at 204cm, is the tallest player in the Super 12 and could prove a crucial player as the Brumbies look to overcome the loss of Giffin for the entire season due to injury. Vickerman will come up against the promising Nathan Sharpe and Wallaby veteran Mark Connors.

Ex-league star Peter Ryan claimed the other contentious berth, starting at No.8 ahead of ex-Reds backrower Scott Fava in the spot left vacant by Jim Williams' departure.

"There was nothing between Vickerman and Pusey and Ryan and Fava," Brumbies coach David Nucifora said. "We'll be selecting our side from week to week based on what we feel we will need for particular opponents."

Nucifora, an ex-Queensland hooker, said his team would look to attack his former state's strength at scrums and lineouts.

"Queensland have based their game for years on having stable set pieces," Nucifora said. "To disrupt them, you need to challenge their possession as aggressively as possible.

"We won't be waiting for them. We'll be looking to take the game to them."

Meanwhile Jacob Rauluni has edged out Sam Cordingley for the halfback spot in the Reds line-up.

Rauluni will go head to head with Wallaby captain George Gregan in the series opener.

"I'm feeling more pressure from Sam than George (Gregan, ACT halfback)," Rauluni, who's played 44 Tests for Fiji, said at the team announcement.

"But it's a great challenge."

Sean Hardman will start as hooker for the Reds following the retirement of Michael Foley, while Glenn Panoho is tight head prop ahead of Fletcher Dyson.

Rugby League convert Wendell Sailor will start on the left wing for the Reds in his biggest test since he switched codes.

ACT BRUMBIES: Andrew Walker, Mark Bartholomeusz, Stirling Mortlock, Pat Howard, Graeme Bond, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (capt), Peter Ryan, George Smith, Owen Finegan, Dan Vickerman, Justin Harrison, Ben Darwin, Jeremy Paul, Bill Young. Res: Adam Freier, Angus Scott, David Pusey, Scott Fava, Travis Hall, Tim Atkinson, Damian McInally.

QUEENSLAND REDSQld: Nick Stiles, Sean Hardman, Glenn Panoho, Mark Connors, Nathan Sharpe, Matt Cockbain, David Croft, Toutai Kefu, Jacob Rauluni, Elton Flatley, Wendell Sailor, Steve Kefu, Daniel Herbert (c), Ben Tune, Chris Latham. Res: Tom Murphy, Fletcher Dyson, Mike Mitchell, John Rose, Junior Pelesasa, Andrew Scotney, Sam Cordingley.