Australia captain Stirling Mortlock returns to the starting XV for the Brumbies they tackle the Chiefs on Friday.
Australian captain back after four months out
Australia captain Stirling Mortlock returns to the starting XV for the Brumbies they tackle the Chiefs on Friday, even though the centre has not played for four months.
The Brumbies have been beset by injuries all season, particularly in the backs, meaning the return of someone with Mortlock's experience is all the more valuable.
It will be even more valuable if goal-kicker and full-back Mark Gerrard fails to recover from a hamstring strain, on which he is due to have an MRI scan on Tuesday.
If the injury is said to be too severe for the coming weekend's match against the Chiefs, Gerrard will be replaced by another returnee, Adam Ashley-Cooper. Mortlock would slot straight into the outside centre berth.
"I'm very confident that after all the rehabilitation the shoulder will be right to go," Mortlock said to the
AAP.
"I'll be short of match fitness so I'm realistic about sucking in some big ones as the game goes on but running out on to a home stadium is a good way back in.
Focus
"A lot has changed. The last time I played for the Brumbies, George Gregan and 'Bernie' Larkham were still on board.
"Importantly, the young guys have stepped up.
"Hopefully, I can add some stability and focus in the backline."
Coach Laurie Fisher rates Gerrard a better than 50-50 chance of playing at Canberra Stadium, and is happy that Mortlock will be hitting the ground running.
"He (Gerrard) ran (Sunday and Monday), not with the team, but he ran pretty well so we're going to get an MRI tomorrow just to check on his hamstring," Fisher said.
"He may well be considered either in the starting XV or on the bench, whereas initially we weren't that certain about him.
"Two days ago he was 50-50, (now) he might be fractionally better but we just need to see what the MRI says.
"We just didn't get it done initially because of his recovery within 48 hours but if we are going to play him we want to be certain in our minds that there's nothing there."
