Brumbies

Coles will come from the bench in his first match in four months, having suffered lingering concussion symptoms since copping a head knock against the Highlanders in round four.

That is a significant inclusion for the Canes but getting their star flyhalf back is of utmost importance.

Barrett missed the win against the Crusaders due to a sinus infection so to have him fit and firing come Friday night is a major boost for Hurricanes fans.

There is still no Vince Aso on the team sheet, which means Jordie Barrett will stay at outside centre.

Lealiifano will be the the ACT Brumbies' bench weapon in his first game since being diagnosed with leukaemia 11 months ago, as he lines up in the Super Rugby quarterfinal showdown at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.

His journey back to the field has touched players around the world, with livewire Hurricanes fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder saying it was "bloody inspiring" to see Lealiifano back on the field.

Lealiifano, who has been out of Super Rugby since being diagnosed with leukaemia ten months ago, had originally made his return in Brumbies colours during the team's Austbrokers Cup win over the Asia Pacific Dragons in Singapore in June and will be on the bench for the knockout tie.

The Brumbies and Waratahs hold the first two places in the conference with matching four-win, seven-loss records, although the Brumbies hold a four-point lead after taking six bonus points from their 11 matches.

Under Super Rugby's contentious playoff format, the team that tops the Australian conference will be awarded home advantage in the first round of playoffs on July 21 or 22, even though their record might be inferior to other qualifying teams.

Friday night's match at GIO Stadium continued their drought against overseas opposition and made it the first time they had lost four on the bounce since 2011.

It comes as they prepare to embark on a tough world tour to play South Africa's Kings in Port Elizabeth and Jaguares in Buenos Aires.

The opening 25 minutes were played almost exclusively in the Brumbies' attacking half.

But after winger James Dargaville had a try disallowed in the opening stages, Wharenui Hawera's 18th-minute penalty goal was all they had to show as they went to the break leading 3-0.

Despite being last in the New Zealand group, the Blues were too good for the conference-topping Brumbies in a stark illustration of the gulf between Kiwi outfits and their trans-Tasman rivals.

It was the Brumbies' third loss in a row and ninth consecutive defeat to New Zealand opposition.

The Blues dominated possession from the outset on Sunday but were unable to breach the Brumbies dogged defence for the opening half hour in front of 12,072 at GIO Stadium.

Winger Matt Duffie broke the deadlock, with a George Moala offload helping him to cross after 31 minutes.

After trailing 21-14 at the break, the defending champions piled on six unanswered second-half tries on Friday night to shoot to the top of the table in devastating fashion.

Centre Vince Aso bagged a hat-trick, including two in six minutes early in the second half to blow the game open, while Callum Gibbins collected a double at McLean Park.

Boasting the best defence in the competition heading in to the match, the Brumbies simply had no answer after the break as Beauden Barrett delivered an attacking mastersclass.

Trailing for most of a match that made up for a lack of quality with plenty of commitment, replacement Highlanders prop Aki Seiuli barrelled over under the posts in the 73rd minute for a converted try that proved to be the difference.

The Brumbies then set about utilising their favourite attacking ploy, the driving maul off a lineout, in a frantic finale, but the visitors held firm on three occasions to either draw a penalty or force a turnover to keep their lead intact.

Fekitoa was under concussion protocol after taking a head knock and leaving the field in the first half of his team's 41-15 loss to the Hurricanes last weekend.

However, he and first-five eighth Fletcher Smith, who left the field in the second half after taking a high shot from Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara, have both been declared fit. 

Their availability came as music to the ears of Coach Tony Brown, whose side has been ravaged by injury through the first month of the Super Rugby competition.

A prodigy and a veteran all wrapped in one, Hooper’s Super Rugby ton will add to a host of accolades that continue to rack up.

He certainly didn’t look out of place when he made his debut for the Brumbies, against the Chiefs, replacing 111-Test flanker George Smith and crossing for a try along the way.

“I felt well out of my depth for quite a while,” he said.

“It’s a tough competition. It is tough, it’s fast, it’s physical.

“It seems like an absolute age ago and (I had) a lot of scars and cuts less but loving it all the same.”