Brumbies captain Stephen Hoiles has backed young gun Michael Hooper to step up in his Super 14 baptism of fire on Friday night.

With the ink on a two-year deal barely dry, 18-year-old Hooper will make his debut opposing the Chiefs' all-international backrow of Sione Lauaki, Tanerau Latimer and Liam Messam.

The former Australian schoolboys representative has been thrown into the action after veteran Wallabies openside flanker George Smith injured his shoulder in his side's loss to the Blues last week.

"He's coming up against an All Black backrow so that's a huge challenge for him in itself," Hoiles said on Thursday.

"But I think he's ready to do it and while he's been thrown into the deep end I think he'll probably swim to be honest."

It remains unclear when Smith will be fit again, which means Hooper could be in line for more than just a cameo as he fills the void left by one of the most capped flankers in world rugby.

Hoiles said there were definitely similarities in the way they played.

"I wouldn't be unfair and say he's got a physique like George, he`s probably not as chubby as what George was in his early days."

"He's a typical on-baller, he's a bit like a jack-in-the-box, he's very fit, he's very fast and he's a pretty tough little kid."

Toughness is a quality that will certainly be needed against an imposing Chiefs pack which will be fresh after coming off a bye week.

Brumbies coach Andy Friend said the 39-34 loss to the Blues had provided useful insights for their clash with the Chiefs, who play a similar free-running, attacking game.

The Chiefs greatest strength lies in their backline with halves Stephen Donald and Brendon Leonard and flying outside backs Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Lelia Masaga and Richard Kahui.

Friend said his side struggled to adjust against Blues, their first Kiwi opposition this season after a string of matches against South African sides.

"We've been used to another pace," he said.

"We talked about it last week, but it's one thing talking about it and another thing being out there and playing against it, so we'll be better for that."

The Brumbies will be looking to young five eighth Matt Toomua to help spark their own attack after switching Wallabies star Matt Giteau to inside centre to cover the injury loss of Christian Lealiifano.

The Brumbies are aiming to turn around a poor recent record against the Chiefs after the New Zealand side knocked them out of the finals race last year with a grinding 10-7 win in Hamilton, and beat them 42-18 in Canberra in 2008.

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