Melbourne Rebels coach Damien Hill unfazed by 10 changes to team to face Brumbies

REGULAR amounts of massive changes to his line-up have given Melbourne Rebels coach Damien Hill confidence his players can again adjust for Friday's clash with the Brumbies.

New-look Rebels used to change

REGULAR amounts of massive changes to his line-up have given Melbourne Rebels coach Damien Hill confidence his players can again adjust for Friday's clash with the Brumbies.

A combination of injuries and national call-ups have forced Hill to make 10 changes from the team that went down to the Reds at Suncorp Stadium last weekend.

That includes five new players in the run-on side, including inexperienced halves duo Nic Stirzaker and Bryce Hegarty, with Nick Phipps and James O'Connor in Wallabies camp.

"It's always unsettling but it's happened enough now that we are getting better at handling it," Hill said of the changes.

"Bryce did a sensational job for us in the three weeks previous (while O'Connor was injured) and he's itching for another opportunity."

Hill said fill-in half-back Stirzaker was equally excited about getting his second start and while former Wallabies playmaker Luke Burgess was an able back-up on the bench, he might not be required.

Burgess only arrived at the club on Monday after two seasons in France and has spent the week being instructed on the way the Rebels play, without being overloaded with information.

"We'll limit the knowledge to what he really needs to know and back his experience for the rest," Hill said.

"It will be similar stuff to what he's heard before, just different names, and the slight tweaks he'll find challenging and exciting.

"But I am really happy with the way Nick Stirzaker has played this season. If he is playing well there might be no reason to put Luke on.

"That decision will come down to Nick's performance. He's been waiting for this ... he's excited for this week."

Captain Gareth Delve returns to No. 8 for Scott Higginbotham while Cadeyrn Neville and Jordy Reid replace injured duo Hugh Pyle and Jarrod Saffy in the back row.

"They have been three of our 60 and 80-minute players for a long time now, they are big shoes to fill," Hill said.

"Their replacements will do a fantastic job I am sure."

With Japanese hooker Shota Horie absent on international duties, Pat Leafa wins his first call-up to the bench while back-rower James King will also make his Rebels debut from the bench alongside Tim Davidson.