The Brumbies welcome No.8 Ita Vaea back from suspension as they attempt to sign off their Super Rugby season in style by spoiling the NSW Waratahs' playoff hopes.

Coach Tony Rea on Thursday slotted Vaea straight back into his starting team for Saturday's final round match at Sydney's ANZ Stadium against the seventh-placed Waratahs, who must win to make the finals series.

It follows 22-year-old Vaea's one-match ban for a high shot on Digby Ioane in the Brumbies' upset win over ladder leaders Queensland in Brisbane - a win which sparked a late season resurgence after a horror campaign.

Otherwise, Rea largely stayed with the line-up that won 32-17 against the Melbourne Rebels last weekend.

Vaea slots back at No.8 with Mitchell Chapman switching to blindside breakaway and Henry Vanderglas dropping to the bench.

Scrum-half Josh Valentine returns from a hamstring injury to a spot on the bench while lock Sam Carter and scrum-half Nic White drop out of the match-day squad.

Rea said the return of Vaea added strength and size to his side's backrow for their clash at the breakdown against NSW.

"It was good to get Ita's size back into in the backrow," Rea said.

The two-time Super Rugby champion Brumbies have endured their worst Super season since the competition began in 1996 but there's still plenty to play for with Wallabies' squad berths on the line in a World Cup year.

A win this weekend would be a third consecutive triumph for the Brumbies, the first time since March 2010 the Canberra-based side has achieved such a run.

A victory would also avenge the 29-22 home loss to the Waratahs in March.

Brumbies: Christian Lealiifano, Henry Speight, Tyrone Smith, Pat McCabe, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau (capt), Patrick Phibbs, Ita Vaea, Julian Salvi, Mitchell Chapman, Peter Kimlin, Ben Hand, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Jerry Yanuyanutawa. Res: Anthony Hegarty, Jono Owen, Henry Vanderglas, Tom Boidin, Josh Valentine, Andrew Smith, Robbie Coleman.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...616-1g4uv.html