Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock is set to remain out of position on the wing as the Brumbies fight for their first Super 14 finals berth in five years.

Brumbies coach Andy Friend indicated his much-discussed backline selections would stay in place for Saturday night's home clash with the also desperate Blues after their seven-try romp over Queensland on Saturday.

Playing with the razzle-dazzle and precision they're traditionally renowned for, the ACT side completed a 107-point turnaround with their 52-13 thumping of the struggling Reds after the previous week's record loss to leaders the Hurricanes.

Mortlock copped intense scrutiny following a below-par display in Wellington and his selection on the wing had critics suggesting his Test position at outside centre was under serious threat.

The 76-Test veteran didn't need to star against the woeful, injury-riddled Reds but still managed to bag 17 points in a flawless goalkicking return and pop up with key plays when required.

"You'd be silly to write Stirling Mortlock off, he's a champion footballer and a real competitor," said Friend.

"Don't read too much into us moving him out to the wing, it's about us getting our best players on the park.

"He kicked eight from eight, and also offered a lot with his talk and what he did on the field.

"That's the class of the man he knows where to be on the field whether he's wearing 13 or playing on the wing."

Mortlock remains happy to play where it best suits his team, accepting Friend's selection of noted communicator Gene Fairbanks at No.12, largely to aid novice playmaker Matt Toomua, which forced Tyrone Smith to outside centre.

"Tyrone is a tremendous footballer but probably doesn't talk as much as Gene and he's also been one of our better players so to put our better players on the park that's the combination we came up with," he said.

Smith's brother George produced a man-of-the-match performance highlighted by an adlib grubber ahead for Mark Gerrard which resulted in a try to another makeshift winger in Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Skipper Stephen Hoiles enjoyed his best game of the season, topped by two tries, but couldn't help but lavish praise on his senior back-row partner.

"He's got the complete game and it's an honour to play with someone like George Smith," No.8 Hoiles said.

"He's a true leader by example in this side and every week he's trying 100 per cent and he's always coming up with some crucial plays whether it be a kick-through or stealing the ball with four blokes trying to belt him.

"It never ceases to amaze me what he can do."

Friend praised his back-row as being instrumental to their domination and felt blind-side flanker Mitchell Chapman must be in Wallabies contention.

The bonus point win puts the Brumbies into equal fifth with the Waratahs and Crusaders but they need to beat the eighth-placed Blues and second-placed Chiefs (away) in the final two rounds to make their first play-off series since winning the Super 12 in 2004.

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