The Brumbies will be chasing crucial end of season momentum when they play the Waikato Chiefs in Hamilton before starting preparations for the Super Rugby finals.

Coach Stephen Larkham has rotated almost his entire squad, leaving Fardy to take the reins of a young and untested group of players desperate for an opportunity to shine.

Fardy, who will leave Canberra at the end of the season, expects unbridled enthusiasm to lift the young Brumbies despite a lack of experience.

"The guys we've got coming in are outstanding players, it's just that we haven't seen much of them but they deserve their shot to play," Fardy said.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the way they play and gaining some confidence about what we do before the finals.

"The guys who are playing this week aren't new to the Brumbies or Super Rugby. There are guys who have played 60 or 70 games so we're not going to lose anything there."

The Brumbies are aiming to break a three-year losing streak in New Zealand and a 10-game drought against Kiwi rivals.

They have already secured a finals berth for the fifth consecutive season despite one of the worst statistical years in Australian Super Rugby history.

Beating the Chiefs would be a massive confidence boost given the Brumbies have rested key players and they will play either the Chiefs or Wellington Hurricanes in the first week of the finals.

Either finals scenario will be a daunting proposition for the Brumbies, but Fardy backed a new approach to player management to help them rise against the odds.

The Brumbies have rested players this year at different times, including Fardy who was given a week off after just two games this year.

Fardy's ommission so early in the season raised eyebrows, but the veteran flanker was adamant the Brumbies' mentality could help Australian rugby.

"The way we've done things this year is the way forward," Fardy said.

"Even the All Blacks guys aren't playing for the Chiefs this weekend. In Australian rugby we've been sending guys back from a big Test series straight into Super Rugby a few days later.

"The ability to give guys a rest and back younger players by feeding them into the squad is important or you'll end up having big holes when guys leave Australia."

Larkham added: "We've got all the data, we know where guys are at physically and mentally.

"We've come up with this plan and guys will get an opportunity. But I'm sure if you understand where we're coming from in terms of the bigger picture in terms of the numbers."

Fardy is winding up his Brumbies career as he prepares to move to Ireland at the end of their Super Rugby campaign.

The 33-year-old journeyman was a late bloomer in Super Rugby, waiting until he was 27 before making his debut for the Brumbies and earning a cult-following for his no-nonsense style.

The bearded warrior played 62 games in a row for the Brumbies before being rested earlier this year, and will finish his time in Canberra just short of 100 caps for the club.

But Fardy says there's no time for sentiment if the Brumbies want to be genuine title contenders.

"The enormity of leaving hasn't hit me yet," Fardy said.

"But I'm enjoying every bit of the process with the guys. The guys always play for each other here, it's the way it's always been and a bit of a Brumbies tradition really.

"We're playing finals ... now it's just about winning the tight games you get. I think guys are pretty confident in what they do and we know what our goal is."

SUPER RUGBY ROUND 17

Saturday: Waikato Chiefs v ACT Brumbies at Hamilton, New Zealand, 3.15pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 1.

Brumbies team: 15. Jordan Jackson-Hope, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Nigel Ah Wong, 12. Andrew Smith, 11. James Dargaville, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 9. Tomas Cubelli, 8. Lolo Fakaosilea, 7. Jarrad Butler, 6. Scott Fardy (c), 5. Blake Enever, 4. Tom Staniforth, 3. Leslie Leuluailii-Makin, 2. Robbie Abel, 1. Nic Mayhew. Reserves: 16. Josh Mann-Rea, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Ben Alexander, 19. Ben Hyne, 20. Tom Cusack, 21. Jordan Smiler, 22. Ryan Lonergan, 23. Tom Banks.

Chiefs team: 15. Damian McKenzie, 14. Solomon Alaimalo, 13. Alex Nankivell, 12. Charlie Ngatai, 11. James Lowe, 10. Aaron Cruden (c), 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8. Michael Leitch, 7. Lachlan Boshier, 6. Liam Messam, 5. Mitchell Brown, 4. Michael Allardice, 3. Nepo Laulala, 2. Nathan Harris, 1. Kane Hames. Reserves: 16. Liam Polwart, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Atu Moli, 19. Tom Sanders, 20. Mitchell Karpik, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Stephen Donald, 23. Shaun Stevenson.