Already languishing near the bottom of the Australian conference, the Brumbies have landed at the bottom of the world hoping to revive their flagging Super Rugby fortunes.

The Brumbies take on the Highlanders in freezing cold Invercargill on Friday night and, appropriately, the visitors received a chilling warning from their opponents upon arrival to one of the southernmost cities on earth.

All Blacks star Adam Thomson said the Highlanders were "fizzing" to play after enduring a last-round bye following back-to-back defeats at the hands of the Stormers and Crusaders.

Thomson, the outstanding loose forward of the early stages of the competition, said the weekend off had come at the right time for the Highlanders, whose momentum stalled after a three-from-three start to the season.

"There was no lack of motivation in the last game, against the Crusaders, but it was pretty tough to come back from South Africa after a couple of tough games there," he said.

"The mind was willing but maybe the body was 10 per cent off the pace."

A day after confirming he was leaving Canberra for the NSW Waratahs at the end of the season, Wallabies attacking ace Adam Ashley-Cooper was shunted to the wing for the Brumbies' must-win match.

After starting the year in the centres, Ashley-Cooper played fullback in last week's tough 29-22 loss to the Waratahs.

But searching for answers after four successive defeats, Brumbies coach Tony Rea has preferred Matt Toomua at fullback this week, with winger Francis Fainifo losing his place in the starting line-up.

In other changes, Salesi Ma'afu gets his first start at tighthead prop with Dan Palmer relegated to the bench.

Peter Kimlin moves into the starting team as blindside flanker in place of rookie Colby Faingaa, who on Thursday provided the embattled Brumbies with a much-needed boost by re-signing for another two years.

The Highlanders are expecting to face a desperate Brumbies outfit.

"They're a very capable team and they've shown that with the very good results they've achieved over the years," Thomson said.

"But I think it's time for us to step up and get back on track."

Former Crusader Colin Slade will make his long-awaited Highlanders debut at five-eighth after suffering a broken jaw in a pre-season game against the Blues.

He replaces veteran Tony Brown in the No.10 jersey in one of three changes to the starting side.

Fit-again wing Kade Poki replaces James Paterson and All Blacks lock Tom Donnelly comes in for his first start of the season with Josh Bekhuis moving to the bench.

Robbie Robinson, involved in an inner-city fracas after the loss to the Crusaders, was not considered for disciplinary reasons.

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