Coach Jake White has made a surprising five changes to the Brumbies’s undefeated starting line-up to bulk up for this weekend’s Super Rugby clash the Sharks in Durban.

The Brumbies are three from three this season but face their biggest challenge on Sunday morning (AEDT) when they go up against last year’s Super Rugby runners-up.

Scott Sio (prop), George Smith (openside flanker), Fotu Auelua (No.8), Tevita Kuridrani (outside centre) and Joe Tomane (wing) have all been promoted into the starting 15.

White has opted to go into the match with more firepower in the forward pack in what looks to be a move to ensure the Brumbies are not outmuscled by their big South African opponents.

Smith was a forced change with regular No.7 David Pocock set to miss the rest of the Super Rugby season because of an ACL tear.

He features as part of a heavily re-worked Brumbies pack, Peter Kimlin moving into lock while Scott Fardy drops to the bench.

Captain Ben Mowen switches from the back of the scrum to blind-side flanker as tight-head prop Dan Palmer has been given a week off to give 116kg prop Sio his run-on debut.

“Scotty Sio has been working hard on his set-piece and fitness and its nice to be able to hand him his first starting jersey,” White said.

Former Australian under 20s skipper Colby Faingaa will also feature on the Brumbies’s bench to cover for Smith.

“Traditionally this has been one of the Brumbies’s biggest games of the season,” White said.

“To come away from Durban with four points is a huge challenge but one the team feels comfortable with.”

Outside centre Andrew Smith has been dropped from the Brumbies match day 22 for the first time since 2011, White instead opting for the 196cm tall Fijian born Kuridrani.

South African-born Clyde Rathbone has also been moved to the bench for the first time since returning to Super Rugby, with Joe Tomane being promoted to the starting line-up alongside fellow winger Henry Speight.

Team: Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua, Nic White, Fotu Auelua, George Smith, Ben Mowen (c), Sam Carter, Peter Kimlin, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio. Res: Siliva Siliva, Ruaidhri Murphy, Scott Fardy, Colby Faingaa, Ian Prior, Robbie Coleman, Clyde Rathbone.