UPDATE: He's the oldest player in the Brumbies squad and the ACT team is his third Super Rugby home but coach Dan McKellar says Cadeyrn Neville's best rugby is still ahead of him.
Neville will start for the Brumbies for the first time on Friday night, when they face the Rebels, after Darcy Swain (shoulder) was ruled out.
A former AIS rower, the 31-year-old has played with the Reds and rebels in Super Rugby and also spent time playing in Japan before returning to Australia.
Though he has plenty of playing years behind him, McKellar said he felt Neville had more to give.
"Good athlete - he was a rower back in his younger days so he's got a big engine on him, moves well for a guy who's 122kg, obviously brings size and experience so it's exciting for him," he said.
"I think his best years are ahead of him. We're keen to really work closely with him and give him some good coaching and help develop him."
Neville opted to return to Australia from Japan hunting opportunities and McKellar said the door for second rowers was well and truly open in Australia.
Super Rugby is BACK in Canberra once again this Friday night, the Plus500 Brumbies taking on the Melbourne Rebels at GIO Stadium! #BRUvREB pic.twitter.com/MnHIKJCpr4
— Plus500 Brumbies (@BrumbiesRugby) February 5, 2020
"With Carts (Sam Carter) and Rory (Arnold) leaving, we had the converation with Cadeyrn and said there's opportunity here and there's opportunity within Australian rugby for locks in 2020," he said.
"I think it's great guys want to come back and they all want to play Super Rugby."
Neville will team up with Murray Douglas in the second row while promising Junior Wallabies second rower Nick Frost comes onto the bench.
The Brumbies have lost their past four matches against the Rebels but have won nine home matches in a row, just four short of a club record 13-match streak.
McKellar said he couldn't put his finger on the reason for their recent run of losses to Melbourne, dating back to 2017.
"I couldn't answer that question for you," he said.
"We've played really well in patches against them.
"I think back to round four last year, I think it was19-3 at half-time, executing our plan well and went away from that so that's our challenge this week is we've got a plan we'll go into the game with and don't get bored of it."
Melbourne will be desperate for their first win of 2020 after going down to the Sunwolves in Fukuoka last weekend.
The Brumbies host the Rebels at GIO Stadium on Friday February 7, kicking off at 7:15pm AEDT, LIVE on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and RUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.
TEAM
IN: Nick Frost
OUT: Darcy Swain (Shoulder)
1. Scott Sio
2. Folau Fainga'a
3. Allan Alaalatoa (c)
4. Murray Douglas
5. Cadeyrn Neville
6. Rob Valetini
7. Tom Cusack
8. Pete Samu
9. Joe Powell
10. Noah Lolesio
11. Tom Wright
12. Irae Simone
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Solomone Kata
15. Tom Banks
Reserves
16. Connal McInerney
17. Harry Lloyd
18. James Slipper
19. Nick Frost*
20. Will Miller
21. Ryan Lonergan
22. Bayley Kuenzle*
23. Andy Muirhead
a
