National Rugby League convert Joe Tomane will have the unenviable task of looking after code-hopper Sonny Bill Williams when the Brumbies face the Chiefs in a Super Rugby Round Four encounter on Friday.

Brumbies coach Jake White was forced into changes to the side which beat the Cheetahs in Canberra last Saturday.

Matt Toomua was forced out of the team with a knee injury, opening space for Christian Lealiifano to make his first appearance in the No.10 jersey for 2012.

This will see Tomane come in at inside-centre - to line up opposite Williams.

After receiving an early release from the Gold Coast Titans in August 2011, Tomane started his journey as a Rugby Union player having not played the game since he was at school.

As a league player Tomane was well known for his electric pace off the mark and strong ball carrying skills. A former Australian Schools representative, Tomane last played Rugby Union at Nudgee College in Queensland, alongside James O'Connor.

Tomane was a sensation after leaving school, scoring some scintillating tries for the Melbourne Storm before moving back to Queensland with the Titans in 2010.

Other changes to the Brumbies team will see Ian Prior making  his run-on debut at scrumhalf.

Pat McCabe has been named on the wing for consecutive weeks, while rookies Cam Crawford and Zack Holmes have been given the nod for bench spots.

Crawford was a late inclusion in the Brumbies touring squad after outside back, Tevita Kuridrani, was unable to fly because of passport problems.

The other notable change was in the loose forwards, with Michael Hooper being named at openside flank and Scott Fardy at blindside flank.

For Hooper it's his first start of the 2012 season, while Fardy is set for his Super Rugby run-on debut following two powerful displays against the Cheetahs and the Force. Hooper has forced Ita Vaea back to the bench.

Along with Vaea, Sam Carter has moved to the bench, shifting Leon Power into the starting side where he will be partnered in the second row by Peter Kimlin.

The change in the Brumbies lock stocks has moved Ben Hand out of the side.

White said his team would need to execute better than in their previous two games if they were to come away from New Zealand with a win.

"While we've been happy to get the wins, which were two hard fought games of rugby, we are under no illusions that it will take a bigger effort to come back to Australia with a win against the Chiefs," White said.

"Against the Force we knew their game was going to be forward-based and against the Cheetahs we were focussed on their backs, but the Chiefs have that consistency across the park which means we will have to be across everything they are doing.

"We've been forced into a few changes around that 10 jersey with Toomua out, but Christian has plenty of experience and after his man of the match effort against the Cheetahs we aren't losing anything there.

"The Chiefs are on a roll, they've beaten the Blues and the Crusaders so we are well aware of how difficult this weekend will be."

Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Joe Tomane, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Peter Kimlin, 4 Leon Power, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Anthony Hegarty, 17 Ruaidhri Murphy, 18 Sam Carter, 19 Ita Vaea, 20 Nic White, 21 Zack Holmes, 22 Cam Crawford.

Date: Friday, March 16
Venue: Bay Park Stadium, Tauranga
Kick-off: 19.35 (06.35 GMT)
Referee: Ian Smith (Australia)
Assistant referees: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Nick Briant (New Zealand)
TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)