This year ACT Brumbies coach Andy Friend has opted for a netball coach.

Welcome to another day of Brumbies pre-season training.

One thing Friend cannot be accused of is being monotonous.

Twelve months ago the then newly-appointed coach, among other things, hired psychologist Dr Pieter Kruger to bulk up the players' mental toughness.

Yesterday Friend called on NSW Swifts netball coach Julie Fitzgerald to put the lads through their paces in a series of footwork, agility and spatial awareness activities.

It's hardly a common approach to prepare for a gruelling season of Super 14 rugby but as far as Friend is concerned, it all helps.

This time of year, with the season still 12 weeks away, mixing things up is important in avoiding a Groundhog Day scenario.

To further spice things up yesterday a handful of players Huia Edmonds, Anthony Hegarty, Henry Vanderglas and Afusipa Taumoepeau took it upon themselves to dress in tight bright attire.

Better than skirts, we suppose.

''It's a bit of variety. It's good for the boys and their skills,'' Friend said.

''A few of the boys who knew we were doing netball today have worn their leotards, their tights.

''They've got themselves sorted.''

Sorted indeed. Fitzgerald, who has coached the Swifts since 1997, has undertaken similar cross-code sessions with the NSW cricket team before.

She believed there were significant similarities between different sports which could aid improvement.

''Things like footwork, agility and spatial awareness, they're common to all these sports,'' Fitzgerald said.

''Netballers often tend to concentrate on and around the ball only whereas in rugby, it's much more open.

''I hope these guys can learn something different and hopefully appreciate the value of footwork and agility.''

Friend has previously involved netball coaches during his pre-Brumbies coaching days.

He believed using leaders of other sports to discuss and implement strategies and tactics useful in rugby could prove fruitful.

''A lot of our players tend to focus in towards the ruck and on the football,'' Friend said.

''Sports like soccer and basketball and netball where everything is happening around you, the players, that spatial awareness, it tends to be second nature to them.

''It's not necessarily second nature in rugby.''

While this week it was Fitzgerald, next week Canberra United coach Ray Junna will get the call-up to give his two-bobs worth.

It's all part of Friend's intriguing yet well-planned approach to his team's Super 14 season.