AAP | May 1, 2009

Queensland dangerman Digby Ioane has questioned the Brumbies' wisdom in shunting the Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock to the wing, depriving him of a benchmark outside-centre battle.

Rising Wallaby winger Ioane was keyed up for a head-to-head midfield confrontation with Mortlock at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night in a major test of his development at No.13.

But Brumbies coach Andy Friend's decision to reshuffle his backline, with centre Gene Fairbanks and fullback Mark Gerrard back from injury, has left the Australian captain on the wing.

"That's a bit weird," Ioane told AAP. "He's the best centre in the world, I don't know what he's doing on the wing.

"But even if he's on the wing he'll play well."

Friend's faith in rookie playmaker Matt Toomua and Fairbanks' return from a groin niggle at inside centre see Tyrone Smith move to outside centre where he'll mark Ioane, the Reds' tackle-shedding strike weapon.

However, Ioane's hot Super 14 form at No.13 isn't expected to see him considered in the midfield for the Wallabies, where Mortlock is likely to start ahead of Ryan Cross.

The 23-year-old Queenslander is challenging both Lote Tuqiri and his Reds team-mate Peter Hynes for starting berths on the wing, where he played three Tests on last year's European tour.

Given opportunities ahead of Lachie Turner by Test coach Robbie Deans, Ioane credited Mortlock and Tuqiri's "inspirational" leadership with his ability to step up to the next level.