Rebels coach Tony McGahan has selected a young backline to take on the Cheetahs in Melbourne on Friday.

A knee injury to Dominic Shipperley and a hand injury to Mitch Inman have forced changes to the backline. Jonah Placid comes into the starting lineup to cover fullback while Cam Crawford moves from left wing to right wing. Utility back Reece Hodge will start at outside centre, with Tamati Ellison moving to inside centre and Sefa Naivalu shifting to left wing. 

In the only change to the forward pack, Toby Smith will start at loosehead after a late withdrawal against the Hurricanes last weekend. 

Cruze Ah Nau has dropped to the bench with Smith's return, and Colby Fainga'a makes his first appearance on the bench since picking up an elbow injury in round one. 

Rebels – 15 Jonah Placid, 14 Cam Crawford, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Tamati Ellison, 11 Sefa Naivalu, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Nic Stirzaker (c), 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Sean McMahon, 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 James Hanson, 1 Toby Smith.
Subs: 16 Pat Leafa, 17 Cruze Ah Nau, 18 Jamie Hagan, 19 Sam Jeffries, 20 Colby Fainga'a, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Kotaro Matsushima, 23 Sione Tuipulotu.

Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images