David Pocock will captain the Brumbies in their first warm-up match, against the Highlanders in Queenstown on Friday.

The openside flank has not played since suffering a season-ending knee injury against the Waratahs last March.

'It's the first big surgery I've had, but the Brumbies have such a good rehab programme and I'm very confident with where I'm at and it's all mental now,' he said. 'I'm nervous [about coming back], but I think I'm more excited.'

The 25-year-old is expected to get at least 40 minutes against the Highlanders.

'When I'm out there, hopefully I'll go pretty hard,' he said. 'In trial games it's about testing yourself, getting a bit of match fitness.'

Centre Pat McCabe, prop Scott Sio and veteran winger Clyde Rathbone are the only other members of the Brumbies squad with Test experience, as coach Stephen Larkham has opted to rest those who toured Europe with the Wallabies in November.

Brumbies squad (for Highlanders) – Allan Alaalatoa, Fotu Auelua, Jarrad Butler, Sam Carter, Robbie Coleman, Lionel Cronjé, Michael Dowsett, Matt Hawke, Conrad Hoffman, Rod Iona, Josh Mann-Rea, Pat McCabe, Lachlan McCaffrey, David Pocock, Leon Power, Clyde Rathbone, Siliva Siliva, Scott Sio, Andrew Smith, JP Smith, Michael Smith, Ruan Smith, Henry Speight, Tom Staniforth, Haru Tetakawa, Jack Whetton, Stephan van der Walt.

Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images