The Brumbies are remaining tight-lipped on whether co-captain Christian Lealiifano will make his return to Super Rugby on Friday night, less than a year after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

The 29-year-old playmaker has not been named in the starting XV to face the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium, but there is speculation he will be included in the reserves when the Brumbies name their bench on Thursday.

It comes 11 months after he learned he had cancer and eight months after he underwent a bone marrow transplant in November before entering remission in February.

The 19-Test Wallaby played for the Brumbies in an exhibition match in Singapore last month and played club rugby in Canberra last week.

His comeback would be a massive boost for the Australian conference champions who have two regular season matches remaining before they host a quarter-final against either the Hurricanes or the Chiefs.

Argentina halfback Tomas Cubelli could also be named on the bench to make his first appearance since suffering a knee injury in a pre-season trial.

Prop Scott Sio will start at loosehead after making his return from a knee complaint for the Wallabies during the June Test break.

Brumbies: Tom Banks, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Kyle Godwin, Aidan Toua, Wharenui Hawera, Joe Powell, Jordan Smiler, Chris Alcock, Scott Fardy, Sam Carter (capt), Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Mann-Rea, Scott Sio. Res: TBA.