Ita Vaea will make his long-awaited return from a heart defect when the Brumbies play the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday.

It will be the Tongan's first appearance for the Brumbies since 2012.

In other changes to the team that thrashed the Reds in Canberra, New Zealand-born Jarrad Butler replaces the injured David Pocock at openside flank, with former Ulster loose forward Sean Doyle on the bench.

Scrumhalf Nic White retains the captaincy with regular skipper Stephen Moore named among the reserves again as he makes a regulated return from a serious knee injury.

Brumbies – 15 Robbie Coleman, 14 Joe Tomane, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Leali'ifano, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White (c), 8 Ita Vaea, 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Josh Mann-Rea, 1 Scott Sio.
Subs: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Sean Doyle, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 James Dargaville, 23 Lausii Taliauli.

Photo: Mark Nolan/Getty Images