Henry Speight returns from injury for the Brumbies' clash with the Waratahs on Saturday, whilst George Smith starts on the bench.

Speight and Smith are the only changes to the team which beat the Rebels two weeks ago in Melbourne.

In Speight's place Joe Tomane moves to the bench, with Tevita Kuridrani dropping out of the game-day 22. As the Australian Conference's top try-scorer in 2012, Speight will be looking to add to his total against the Waratahs after scoring two five-pointers from as many games last year.

Since 2001, Smith has lost just one game against the Waratahs at Canberra Stadium. That was in 2005 and while he hasn't been involved in this fixture since 2010, coach Jake White was confident his newest player would want to keep that record intact.

"To have a player of George's quality wanting to come to the Brumbies says a lot about our organisation and where we are heading," White said.

"George is a player who aligns himself with quality brands and winning teams. George is a proven winner. He's won big games here in Australia and overseas so we are looking to use that experience and attitude here at the Brumbies.

"In the context of the season this is a big game for us. It's great to have Henry [Speight] back in the starting side after he missed the game against the Rebels. Henry scores a lot of tries and we will need him to be at his best on Saturday night," he added.

Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Clyde Rathbone, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 David Pocock, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Siliva Siliva, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Fotu Auelua, 19 George Smith, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Robbie Coleman, 22 Joe Tomane.

Date: Saturday, 9 March
Venue: Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 19.40 (08.40 GMT)
Referee: Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
TMO: Peter Marshall (Australia)