Lonergan will replace Joe Powell in the No. 9 jersey for the clash in Wollongong on Friday afternoon after coach Dan McKellar made several changes to his side.

Scott Sio returns to the loosehead prop role, continuing a two-game rotation with Wallabies tag-team partner James Slipper.

Toni Pulu starts on the wing for the first time this season, Tom Cusack, Darcy Swain and Tom Wright make their comebacks from injury and illness, and teenager Reesjan Pasitoa will earn his second cap from the bench.

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The Brumbies are taking a cautious approach with Folau Faingaa's return from a toe problem, leaving him out of the team for a historic double-header.

The Brumbies will play the Sunwolves at 2.45pm after Super Rugby officials were forced to move the game from Osaka to Wollongong because of coronavirus fears.

The NSW Waratahs will play the Waikato Chiefs at the same venue later in the evening.

The Sunwolves have relocated two home games as part of a Japan-wide decision to postpone sporting events. It is unclear when or if they will be able to return home.

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The Sunwolves players had just three weeks to train together before the season started and the franchise will be axed from Super Rugby at the end of the year.

Back to back 60-point losses has compounded the coronavirus problems, but the Brumbies are refusing to take the Sunwolves lightly.

The Brumbies ended a 13-year drought in Hamilton when they beat the Chiefs two weeks ago and have won three of four games so far this season.

But McKellar has taken the opportunity to add fresh faces to his team, giving Lonergan the No. 9 jersey for the first time.

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Former junior Wallabies captain Lonergan made his debut in 2017, but he didn't play at all in 2018 and had just five games in 2019.

He has played all four games so far this year, averaging 18 minutes from the bench as Powell's back up.

"Their results in the last couple of weeks don't really reflect how good of a footy team they are," Lonergan said of the Sunwolves.

"We've just been preparing how we prepare all the other weeks and definitely not taking them lightly."

SUPER RUGBY ROUND SIX

Friday: Japan Sunwolves vs ACT Brumbies at Wollongong, 2.45pm.

Brumbies: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Connal McInerney, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Caderyn Neville, 5. Murray Douglas, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Toni Pulu, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Solomone Kata, 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. James Slipper, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Darcy Swain, 20. Tom Cusack, 21. Joe Powell, 22. Reesjan Pasitoa, 23. Tom Wright.