Waratahs call on Vickerman

Sydney - The injury-hit Waratahs have given former Wallabies lock Dan Vickerman a spot on the bench for their Super Rugby crunch match against the Brumbies on Saturday, despite the player having spent three years out of the top flight.

The Sydney-based Waratahs will secure a place in the top six of the southern hemisphere's provincial tournament with a win over the Brumbies in the final round.

South Africa-born Vickerman, a 55-Test Wallaby who left Australia in 2008 to study at Cambridge, only arrived in Sydney on Saturday but had the "rugby intellect" to slot into the side, Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said.

The Waratahs have lost winger Drew Mitchell and number eight Wycliff Palu to injuries, and utility back Berrick Barnes pulled the pin on his season on Tuesday after suffering concussion and headaches throughout the year.

The Waratahs have been boosted by the availability of front-rowers Tatafu Polota-Nau and Benn Robinson, however, while Ryan Cross has been recalled to outside centre after two weeks on the sidelines.

A win over the Brumbies will ensure the Waratahs displace one of the South African sides, the fifth-placed Bulls or the sixth-placed Sharks, who clash at Loftus Versfeld.