Scott Fardy will slide back in to the second-row © Getty Images

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The Brumbies have been dealt a huge blow ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby match against the Stormers in Canberra, with four front-line players unavailable after the bruising victory over New South Wales Waratahs.

Wallabies prop Scott Sio, Wallabies winger-in-waiting Henry Speight and second-rower Leon Power have all been ruled out for up to six weeks with respective ankle, jaw and knee injuries, while Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani will miss the Stormers match to return to Fiji for a funeral.

It's not all bad news for the Brumbies, however, as Wallabies winger Joe Tomane returns from an ankle ligament injury sustained in round one to replace Speight, while Andrew Smith represents a straight swap for Kuridrani at outside centre.

In the forwards, Sio's injury has given Cape Town-raised Jean-Pierre Smith his first professional starting debut, while Wallabies flanker Scott Fardy will slide from the back-row to lock to cover Power. Jordan Smiler has been promoted to No.6 in place of Fardy.

The injuries have also given an opportunity for reserves Jack Whetton (lock), Michael Dowsett (scrum-half) and Stephen Van Der Walt (wing) to make their Super Rugby debuts off the bench.

Meanwhile, Wallabies inside centre Christian Lealiifano is expected to return from ankle surgery in the ACT first-grade competition, for Tuggeranong. He is on track to play Melbourne Rebels next week.

Brumbies: Jesse Mogg; Joe Tomane, Andrew Smith, Pat McCabe, Robbie Coleman; Matt Toomua, Nic White; Ben Mowen (captain), Jarrad Butler, Jordan Smiler; Sam Carter, Scott Fardy; Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, JP Smith. Replacements: Siliva Siliva, Ruan Smith, Ruaidhri Murphy, Jack Whetton, Lachlan McCaffrey, Michael Dowsett, Stephen Van Der Walt, Lionel Cronje.