Fullback Aidan Toua has been benched for the first time in his ACT Brumbies career after coach Stephen Larkham continues a rotation policy for the Super Rugby season.

Toua will be replaced by Brumbies rookie Tom Banks for the clash against the Auckland Blues at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.

Toua, 27, has started in 24 consecutive games for the Brumbies since joining the franchise at the start of last year.

But no one is protected from the Brumbies' rotation policy as Larkham attempts to find a way to keep players fresh for a gruelling campaign.

Larkham has made three changes to his starting XV for the crucial game against the Blues, with Banks replacing Toua and Nic Mayhew to fill the hole left by Scott Sio.

Powerhouse ball-runner Lolo Fakaosilea will also get his starting chance at No. 8 with Jarrad Butler shifting to the bench.

Banks has played on the wing twice this season but moves back to his natural position in jersey No. 15 after scoring a hat-trick for Wests in the Join I Dent Cup last week.

"There's not pressure on Tom, fullback is where he's played most of his rugby and he gets an opportunity now to play his natural game," Larkham said.

"We're not expecting anything more and not putting any pressure on him to be outstanding or anything like that, he's just got to play what's in front of him.

"Aidan and Tom are very similar players in terms of their attack prowess, Tom's a very balanced runner, very quick and sees space really well, has a good boot on him.

"Aidan will get on the park at some stage and what he's shown in the last couple of weeks is a real desperation to support any line break we make and that'll be the same with Banksy."

Sio is expected to miss at least two months after his knee twisted awkwardly in the first scrum of the game against the Wellington Hurricanes last week.

"Scott's been through a few injuries and comebacks over the last couple of years and he's disappointed but hopefully we're going to get a bit of positive news from the specialist in the next day or so," Larkham said.

His absence opens the door for Mayhew to play against his former Blues teammates.

"Nick is an outstanding scrummager and fits in with the boys really well so we've got full confidence in Nic, he's been one our standout players this year," Larkham said.

Les Leuluaialii-Makin has been added to the bench as the back-up prop after overcoming his own injury battles at the start of the year.

The Brumbies have lost their past two games in a row, but haven't lost three consecutive matches since the disaster season of 2011.

New Zealand teams have won the first 14 trans-Tasman contests this year, but the Brumbies are hopeful they can end the curse.

"Reviewing last year we had difficulty beating New Zealand sides, so we spent a lot of time on it in preseason and it has been a good focus in season on the tactics that we think we need to beat them and it's just about being more clinical," Larkham said.

SUPER RUGBY ROUND 10

Sunday: ACT Brumbies v Auckland Blues at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.

Brumbies team: 15. Tom Banks, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Andrew Smith, 11. James Dargaville, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 9. Joe Powell, 8. Lolo Fakaosilea, 7. Chris Alcock, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Rory Arnold, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Josh Mann-Rea, 1. Nic Mayhew. Reserves: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Ben Alexander, 18. Les Leuluaialii-Makin, 19. Blake Enever, 20. Jarrad Butler, 21. De Wet Roos, 22. Jordan Jackson-Hope, 23. Aidan Toua.

Blues team: 15. Michael Collins, 14. Matt Duffie, 13. George Moala, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 11. Rieko Ioane, 10. Piers Francis, 9. Augustine Pulu, 8. Akira Ioane, 7. Blake Gibson, 6. Steven Luatua, 5. Scott Scrafton, 4. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. James Parsons, 1. Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: 16. Matt Moulds, 17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 18. Sione Mafileo, 19. Leighton Price, 20. Murphy Taramai, 21. Billy Guyton, 22. Bryn Gatland, 23. Melani Nanai.