Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has made two changes to the starting side that thumped the Hurricanes last week, with Wallabies prop Scott Sio and lock Blake Enever returning to the first XV.

Enever replaces Rory Arnold at lock in the starting side. Arnold picked up a knock to his knee in the 52-10 win over the Hurricanes in Canberra last Friday.

24-year old Enever, from the Sunshine Coast, had a breakout first season with the Brumbies in 2015, making 11 appearances and scoring his maiden Super Rugby try. Along with Arnold, Enever was named a joint-winner of the Brumbies Shawn MacKay Most Outstanding Young Talent Award following his first season in the nation’s capital and backed that form up with some standout matches in last year’s National Rugby Championship.

Sio, who today has signed a new three-year deal to stay with the Brumbies, returns to the starting side after coming from the bench last week. He is a straight swap for close friend Allan Alaalatoa, who also recommitted to the Brumbies until at least 2019 this week.

Head Coach Stephen Larkham has made no other changes to the Brumbies side that crossed for seven tries against the Hurricanes last week.

The Brumbies went down 21-17 to the Waratahs in Wagga Wagga a month ago, and haven’t beaten their NSW counterparts since March 2014. In last year’s fixture at GIO Stadium the Waratahs snuck home 13-10.

The Brumbies will take on the NSW Waratahs this Friday night at GIO Stadium, kickoff at 7:40pm.

Brumbies side to play Waratahs

Scott Sio, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, Blake Enever, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, David Pocock, Ita Vaea, Tomás Cubelli, Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua, Tevita Kuridrani, Henry Speight, Aidan Toua. Reserves: Josh Mann-Rea, Allan Alaalatoa, Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, Jordan Smiler, Jarrad Butler, Michael Dowsett, Andrew Smith, Nigel Ah Wong.