Coaches of Australian Super 14 rugby heavyweights NSW Waratahs and the Brumbies will each have to complete their selection puzzle for next week's opening round without having seen some of their prize recruits.

Brumbies coach Andy Friend and the Waratahs mentor Chris Hickey have adopted a precautionary attitude with the first round just over a week away, heading into the trial between their two teams in Canberra on Thursday.

Friend has decided not to risk his two highest-profile signings, flanker and Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom (hamstring) and inside back Matt Giteau (quad) but said there it was likely both would have played had it been a competition game.

Neither man has played a trial and the same will go for one of the Waratahs major signings, Wallabies outside back Drew Mitchell (hamstring), who Hickey said would have played on Thursday had it been for competition points.

"I think at this stage of the season you're juggling a bit to try and make sure that while you've got to play trial games, you've also got to protect your players a little and try and make sure they are all fit and healthy for the first (Super) game," Hickey told AAP.

Brumbies skipper Stephen Hoiles admitted it wasn't ideal his team would head into their opening round clash with the Force without their two prize recruits having played a trial.

"They are world class players, so if anyone can fit in a week's time it's going to be those two guys," Hoiles told reporters.

Despite the absence of some Wallabies, there will still be 18 Test players starting Thursday's game.

"I'm sure it will be a high-class trial and both teams will get a lot out of it," Hickey said.

He has already offered some clues to his likely starting line-up for the opening round clash with Queensland in Brisbane.

Major recruits Berrick Barnes and Sosene Anesi have retained the five-eighth and fullback positions.

The Waratahs will throw all-Wallaby front and backrow combinations at the Brumbies from the start of the game.

Hickey opted not to use Wallaby utility Kurtley Beale because of his assault case being heard this week.

Friend will trial a dual playmaker combination of five-eighth Matt Toomua and inside centre Christian Lealiifano, while returning former Wallaby Justin Harrison will come off the bench.

"There's still a few questions that need to be answered," Friend said.

"Defensively we were opened up last week (by the Hurricanes) and that's a key area we need to fix up tomorrow."

Teams:

WARATAHS: Sosene Anesi, Lachie Turner, Tom Carter, Daniel Halangahu, Nemani Nadolo, Berrick Barnes, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (capt), Dean Mumm, Cam Jowitt, Kane Douglas, Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: Damien Fitzpatrick, Sekope Kepu, Hendrik Roodt, Chris Thomson, Brendan KcKibbin, Ben Seymour, Locky McCaffrey, Dan Palmer, Ben Mowen, Josh Holmes, Alex Rokobaro, Dave Dennis, Rory Sidey, Peter Betham, Adam D'Arcy.

BRUMBIES: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Alfi Mafi, Stirling Mortlock, Christian Lealiifano, Francis Fainifa, Matt Toomua, Josh Valentine; Stephen Hoiles (capt), George Smith, Mitch Chapman, Mark Chisholm, Ben Hand, Guy Shepherdson, Stephen Moore, Salesi Ma'afu. Res: Huia Edmonds, John Ulugia, Justin Harrison, Henry Vanderglas, Patrick Phibbs, Tyrone Smith, Afusipa Taumoepeau.

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