Born and raised Irish prop Ruaidhri Murphy will be given first crack at filling Stephen Moore’s No.2 Brumbies jersey in Saturday night’s Super Rugby blockbuster against the NSW Waratahs.

With the Brumbies facing an injury crisis across the park, Christian Lealiifano has been named at five-eighth following Matt Toomua’s groin strain.

Murphy has been called into the starting line-up as the Brumbies’ fourth-choice hooker after Moore’s season-ending knee injury while captaining the Wallabies in the first Test against France.

The squad’s two other rakes Siliva Siliva (knee) and Josh Mann-Rea (hamstring) are also unavailable.

That means Murphy, who has never played hooker professionally, will be given the massive task of covering for Australia’s set-piece rock in their must-win clash with the conference-leading Waratahs at ANZ Stadium.

On the bench as cover at hooker is Super Rugby journeyman Luke Holmes, plucked straight out of Sydney club rugby.

With Wallabies lock Sam Carter also injured in the first Test against France, Leon Power returns to the starting side in a re-jigged forward pack in which Jordan Smiler slides to the side of the scrum and Fotu Auelua back to the bench.

Prop Ben Alexander also returns to the starting side at tighthead prop for Ruan Smith.

In the backs, there are concerns over Andrew Smith who has suffered a leg injury during a team run. Smith had been due to line up outside Lealiifano at inside centre.

Jesse Mogg has been promoted from the bench to fullback for injured Wallaby Pat McCabe.

Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Andrew Smith, Robbie Coleman, Christian Lealiifano, Nic White, Ben Mowen (capt), Jarrad Butler, Jordan Smiler, Leon Power, Scott Fardy, Ben Alexander, Ruaidhri Murphy, Scott Sio. Res: Luke Holmes, Ruan Smith, JP Smith, Fotu Auelua, Jack Whetton, Michael Dowsett, Clyde Rathbone, Lionel Cronje.