Highlanders first-five Lima Sopoaga has recovered from what appeared to be a serious injury in the team's last game.

Highlanders first-five Lima Sopoaga has been declared fit for his team's home match against the Brumbies on Saturday night.

Sopoaga, who hobbled off with what appeared to be a serious leg injury early in the Highlanders' round seven loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton, will start in the No 10 jersey at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

It's welcome news for a team desperate to rediscover their mojo, after dropping games against the Hurricanes and Chiefs before exhausting their second and final bye week last weekend.

MICHAEL BRADLEY/GETTY Highlanders loose forward Shannon Frizell is tackled by Anton Lienert-Brown, left, and Charlie Ngatai in Hamilton last month.

Coach Aaron Mauger hasn't gone into panic mode and made wholesale changes to his side, but he has perhaps surprised a few people by replacing blindside flanker Elliot Dixon with Tasman's Shannon Frizell.

READ MORE:

* Sopoaga a chance to play Brumbies

* Brumbies coach: NZ teams don't respect us

* MCL rupture for Perenara

* ABs have issues at loosehead

Frizell, who can also play lock, has made four appearances off the bench so far this season, impressing Mauger and prompting him to suggest they'll encourage him to roam against the Brumbies.

"He's come on and had a really good physical presence in his performances. That's going to be important against a big, physical Brumbies' pack," he said.

"Through the middle of the field he's been really good, both defensively and on attack. He's also very athletic, so if we can get him in the wider channels when he's playing in the loose, he's pretty devastating out there."

In addition to getting hooker Liam Coltman back from concussion, and reinstating Tom Franklin at lock in place of Josh Dickson, Mauger has also reverted back to the midfield combination of Tei Walden and Rob Thompson.

It's the combination that started the first four games of the season, before Thompson slipped into the No 12 jersey and utility Matt Faddes got a run at centre against the Chiefs.

"That was always our plan, to give him [Walden] a break after the Hurricanes game. He's freshened up after that game and also the bye," Mauger said.

His mob can extend the 33-match winning streak New Zealand teams hold over Australian sides on Saturday, not that Mauger has been keeping count.

"Yeah, that does surprise me actually," he said when asked about the dominance Kiwi franchises hold.

"We know the Brumbies should be at their best because they have a bit of form. We respect the challenge that's coming at us, and it's going to be a good test against some of their strengths."

The Highlanders haven't lost to the Brumbies since 2015, but trail the head-to-head stakes 12-10, and had to dig deep to rebuff last ditch raids in their two most recent matches.

Meanwhile, the Brumbies have made one forced change as they head to Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium for a vital match with the Highlanders.

Tom Cusack comes into the starting XV at blindside flanker for Lachlan McCaffrey, who dislocated his left elbow in last week's 45-21 victory over the Queensland Reds.

McCaffrey will miss up to six weeks after an outstanding season so far after returning to Super Rugby this year.

The ACT team has called in club rugby flanker Michael Oakman-Hunt as an injury replacement for McCaffrey, who has been added to the bench after performing well for Tuggeranong Vikings.

Co-captain Sam Carter again starts on the bench after impressing in a 30-minute stint against the Reds on his return from a three-game absence due to concussion.

Australian teams have lost 33 straight Super Rugby matches against New Zealand opponents, dating back to May 27, 2016 when the NSW Waratahs thumped the Chiefs.

AT A GLANCE

Highlanders v Brumbies

Saturday, 7.35pm, Dunedin

Referee: Mike Fraser

TAB odds: Highlanders: $1.12, Brumbies $5.85

HIGHLANDERS: Ben Smith (co-captain), Waisake Naholo, Rob Thompson, Tei Walden, Tevita Li, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock, Dillon Hunt, Shannon Frizell, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown. Reserves: Ash Dixon (co-captain), Aki Seiuli, Kalolo Tuiloma, Alex Ainley, Elliot Dixon, Kayne Hammington, Fletcher Smith, Matt Faddes

ACT BRUMBIES: Tom Banks, James Dargaville, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Chance Peni, Wharenui Hawera, Matt Lucas, Isi Naisarani, David Pocock, Tom Cusack, Blake Enever, Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Folau Fainga'a, Scott Sio. Reserves: Robbie Abel, Nic Mayhew, Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, Sam Carter, Michael Oakman-Hunt, Joe Powell, Kyle Godwin, Andrew Smith

- Stuff, AAP