The Brumbies arrived in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday morning after two-day trek to start preparations for a crucial Super Rugby battle against the Southern Kings.

The Brumbies will be playing the Kings for just the second time and they've never beaten the under-fire South African franchise.

A four-game losing streak and losing a big Australian conference ladder lead has poured fuel on to the Brumbies' fire as they attempt to get their season back on track.

To do that they will have to end a 210 minute try drought and Mann-Rea says the forwards will shoulder the bulk of the responsibilities after being bashed by the Johannesburg Lions last week.

"This tour [to Port Elizabeth and Buenos Aires] will be a big one for the forwards, if we can get some dominance and some front-foot ball for the backs it will go a long way to winning both games," Mann-Rea said.

"The challenge is making sure we're dominant, winning our lineouts and getting clean ball in the scrum.

"Everything in the forwards is going to be a heavy load. If we get dominance there, it will hopefully go a long way to helping that back line break free because we've got some great backs there.

"We knew the physicality was coming against the Lions but we got held up a lot [in the tackle]. It will probably be very similar tactics from the Kings so we have to be ready again."

The Brumbies are clinging to a three-point lead in the Australian conference as the Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs and Western Force lurk in the background and wait for another slip-up.

The Brumbies have been on a dramatic form slide for the past month, losing games against the Melbourne Rebels, Wellington Hurricanes, Auckland Blues and Lions.

Six of their seven losses this year have been by seven points or less, but Mann-Rea fired a warning and declared near enough is not good enough for their finals hopes.

The Australian conference has endured a disastrous Super Rugby campaign this year, winning just 13 of 51 games to start the year.

But the Super Rugby set up guarantees one Australian spot in the finals and four teams are jostling for the play-off berth.

"We can't really afford to lose any more games now, everyone is catching us and it's pretty tight in the conference," Mann-Rea said.

"We've had some good performances but it's not good just being close. We've got to get these wins from now on.

"I think the tightness [of the conference ladder] is going to bring out the best performances in everyone because it's so close now, and the way results go it could be anyone who comes out on top."

Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is set to continue his rotation policy and add new blood to the team to play the Kings at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Flanker Chris Alcock will almost certainly return to the starting XV after being rested with ankle issues last week while Larkham could also search for a spark to his back line.

The Brumbies plucked Andrew Muirhead out of Canberra's club rugby competition to add him to their touring squad while Tom Banks is also pushing for a spot after James Dargaville was left in Canberra.

"There's been six or seven games where we've been in them right until the death, so you do take confidence out of that," Mann-Rea said.

"We're not getting flogged or down by a lot of points and having to chase it. But it is frustrating too when you lose by those close margins.

"We've just got to focus on staying confident and I think the wins will come. That's what we've got to do now, we can't afford to lose any more."

SUPER RUGBY ROUND 13

Sunday: Southern Kings v ACT Brumbies at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, 3.30am (AEST). TV time: Live on Fox Sports 1.