Wallabies centre Pat McCabe will make his long-awaited return from shoulder surgery on the wing for the Brumbies in their third-round Super Rugby clash with the Cheetahs on Saturday.

Coach Jake White left it to his captain Ben Mowen to announce the team on Thursday following his admission he might leave the Brumbies at the end of the season for the national coaching job with England.

McCabe’s inclusion for his first match since last year’s World Cup was one of two changes from the Brumbies’ outfit that beat the Western Force in their only game two weeks ago, with Ben Hand in at lock in place of Leon Power.

Jesse Mogg has been moved from wing to fullback, a role left vacant after Robbie Coleman went down with a groin injury.

Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Pat McCabe, Andrew Smith, Christian Lealiifano, Henry Speight, Matt Toomua, Nic White, Ben Mowen (capt), Ita Vaea, Peter Kimlin, Sam Carter, Ben Hand, Dan Palmer, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander. Res: Anthony Hegerty, Ruaidhri Murphy, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ian Prior, Zack Holmes, Joe Tomane.