Brumbies coach Tony Rea dropped Wallabies lock Mark Chisholm to the bench as he demanded his tight forwards lift their games for the Super Rugby strugglers.

With just two wins from 10 matches the Brumbies return to Canberra Stadium on Saturday night with a great chance to secure a morale-boosting victory against the last-placed Lions who have only one win.

But another defeat would set a record from the Brumbies during a Super Rugby season.

Rea said the tight five must improve after failing to provide the necessary platform as the Brumbies conceded 28 unanswered points in the second half of their 34-16 loss to the Sharks in Durban last weekend.

"They are the engine room, they need to step up, they need to deliver," Rea said on Thursday.

"... All of our tight forwards could have contributed more in that game."

Rea said poor skills also let the side down again in Durban and that had to improve against the Johannesburg-based Lions on Saturday night.

"Just the basics not being done well put us under so much pressure," he said. "We were fighting a dumb fight."

Rea said Chisholm had to lift his work rate around the park.

He promoted Ben Hand to start at lock in his place.

"He (Chisholm) just needs to do his basics well and go back to doing that," Rea said.

"Ben Hand has knocked on that door pretty hard and we expect `Chiso' to come firing out when he gets his chance on the weekend."

Josh Valentine returns as the starting halfback in place of Patrick Phibbs.

Winger Henry Speight returns from injury to replace Francis Fainifo on the bench.

Prop Dan Palmer is bracketed but unlikely to recover in time from a foot injury with Jono Owen likely to start his second straight match.

Captain Matt Giteau is set to play his 100th Super Rugby match and become the third ACT-raised player to achieve the milestone after George Gregan and Stephen Larkham.

Giteau played 37 of his Super matches with the Western Force.

"To be getting the 100 games where I started is something that I am proud of and I am looking forward to this weekend," Giteau said.

He said the looming domestic Test season with the climax of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand had not crossed his mind.

"Especially being given the captaincy, I have been solely focused on the Brumbies and getting us winning," Giteau said.

"If things pan out and performances suggest I should be in the team, then I'll get picked."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP