Rookie Brumbies fullback Sam Norton-Knight believes the Stormers' near-Springbok strength backline may target him in Friday's Super 12 rugby clash in Canberra.

Norton-Knight, usually a five-eighth, made an assured Super 12 starting debut in the unfamiliar position of fullback against the Bulls in Canberra last week.

With first choice custodian Mark Gerrard out for a second week with a hamstring injury, 21-year-old Norton-Knight is once again expected to occupy the number 15 jersey.

While Wallabies captain and half-back George Gregan will be available after missing last week's game because of his participation in the IRB Rugby Aid match, the Brumbies will still field a depleted backline missing Gerrard and Test stars Stirling Mortlock and Matt Giteau.

Conversely, the Stormers are likely to have at least one or two Springbok backs on their bench and could field an entire back division of Springboks.

"They've got pretty well a Springbok backline so I can imagine the ball will reach them quite a bit and they will really try and attack us off the first phase," Norton-Knight said.

He acknowledged he could well be singled out for attention by the Stormers given his relative lack of senior experience.

"Not only have they got good kickers, they've got a good kick chase and they've got all that speed out there," Norton-Knight said.

"So I obviously envisage they will try and target me and I suppose I've just got to deal with that."

Norton-Knight's appearance and playing style has led to commentators and even officials mistaking him for Brumbies five-eighth Stephan Larkham, but the youngster was keen to play down any comparison with the gifted pivot.

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