Brumbies rugby coach Laurie Fisher is placing his faith and possibly his team's Super semi-final hopes in the hands of a pint-sized back row for this weekend's clash with the Stormers in Cape Town.

The match at Newlands is a must-win affair for the Brumbies, who play the team immediately above them on the ladder.

The seventh-placed Brumbies are three points and one spot behind the Stormers, who themselves are just one point out of the top four.

Fisher has opted for one of the lightest and quickest back row combinations fielded by an Australian team in recent memory.

He has recalled athletic and mobile Wallabies back rower Stephen Hoiles to the starting side, alongside noted flyers George Smith and Julian Salvi.

All of the trio are listed at around or just over 100 kilos and they will concede around 25 kilos in weight to the Stormers back row trio.

Hoiles has returned at the expense of bigger flanker Mitchell Chapman and Fisher felt what the Brumbies might lose in the air they would make up on the ground.

"We lose Chappo's line-out ability, but that's the risk you take," Fisher said.

"There's going to be a great battle in the back row and I think the Stormers will be really looking for their forwards to exert some influence on the game," Fisher said.

The back row apart, Fisher made two other changes to his pack, recalling hooker Saia Faingaa and prop Salesi Ma'afu in place of John Ulugia and Guy Shepherdson respectively.

The Brumbies mentor said the Stormers had few weak spots.

Fisher added the Stormers' set pieces had been very good this year and that they also played a good field position game.

"They are probably most dangerous off counter attack and turnovers and free kicks and they play the numbers on you," Fisher said.

While the Stormers have been hit by a number of recent injuries including one to their outstanding back rower Schalk Burger, Fisher said they still had 22 quality players to call upon this week.

"If you start thinking that injuries are going help you, then you are on the wrong track," Fisher said.

Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus was philosophical about the sudden glut of casualties his side had incurred.

"Every team in the competition has to absorb five or six injuries at some stage or another," Erasmus said.

Among the voluntary changes Erasmus made to his side this week were the recall of Springbok halves Enrico Januarie and Peter Grant.

They replaced Bolla Conradie and New Zealander Tony Brown, who played only 20 minutes last week due to a rib injury.

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