Injuries have again blighted the Brumbies' preparations for another bid to notch back-to-back wins this Super Rugby campaign, against the Western Force on Sunday.

Coach Tony Rea has made four changes for the Canberra showdown, three of them due to injuries.

Huia Edmonds' damaged hamstring has not fully healed, leaving the Canberra outfit with two inexperienced hookers.

Anthony Hegarty moves off the bench into the number two jersey for his initial Super Rugby run-on while Elvis Levi has been selected for his first match-day squad as replacement hooker.

Dan Palmer returns to the starting line-up at tighthead prop with Salesi Ma'afu demoted to the bench.

Pat McCabe moves from the bench to replace injured winger Henry Speight while Francis Fainifo will start on the other flank with classy utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper moving to the bench.

Rae said Ashley-Cooper had barely trained during the week after limping off with a hip injury in the Brumbies' 17-16 win against the Hurricanes last Saturday that ended a five-match losing streak.

"He (Ashley-Cooper) hasn't done the workload so it is something we are looking at," Rea said.

Injuries have hampered the Brumbies all season - Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom has yet to play due to a strained hamstring.

Others on the sidelines include hooker Stephen Moore (ankle), flankers Stephen Hoiles (achilles), Mitchell Chapman (cheekbone) and Speight (ankle).

But Rae said Elsom, Hoiles and Chapman would be considered for selection when for a two-match South African tour starting against the Cheetahs in April 29 after a bye next week.

Pat McCabe's ability to play all outside back positions could add versatility to attack.

"He will be looking probably to join in different positions, depending on how the game unfolds probably later in the game," Rea said.

He wants Hooper to start the match stronger than he did last week: "That's the little marker he has to throw in this week, he had a good game (last week) but he needs to get going really early."

BRUMBIES: Matt Toomua, Pat McCabe, Andrew Smith, Christian Lealiifano, Francis Fainifo, Matt Giteau (capt), Josh Valentine; Ita Vaea, Michael Hooper, Peter Kimlin, Mark Chisholm, Ben Hand, Dan Palmer, Anthony Hegarty, Ben Alexander. Res: Elvis Levi, Dan Palmer, Colby Faingaa, Julian Salvi, Patrick Phibbs, Tyrone Smith, Adam Ashley-Cooper.

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