Staniforth has signed a three-year deal to join the Waratahs from the end of the year as the former Australian under-20s vice-captain prepares for a fresh start.

As revealed by Fairfax Media last month, Staniforth's arrival will help the Waratahs fill the giant holes left by Dean Mumm and Will Skelton as NSW searches for ways to rebuild after another failed season.

It will also be an opportunity for Canberra junior Staniforth to move out of home and take on a new challenge after idolising the Brumbies for most of his life.

But before he goes, he wants to help lift the Brumbies to a Super Rugby title when the season resumes on Friday night.

"Everything about the Waratahs is all for next year, I'm 100 per cent focused on what I've got to do to help the Brumbies as best I can this year," Staniforth said.

"I'll give my all to them and when it's time to change to the Waratahs I'll switch then.

"I'm just really excited for a change, moving to a different city and out of home for the first time and then a chance to play a different style with a new team.

"There's a massive opportunity in Sydney and I really like everything the Waratahs present."

The Brumbies have re-signed the bulk of their squad, including locks Rory Arnold, Sam Carter and Blake Enever.

The Brumbies are also edging closer to adding recruits to their roster, with scrumhalf Matt Lucas close to finalising a deal and hooker Folau Faingaa believed to be speaking with the club.

Lucas looms as a replacement for Argentina international Tomas Cubelli, who is set to leave Canberra at the end of the season.

Incoming coach Dan McKellar has one eye on building for the future while also making sure the Brumbies fire in their last two regular season games.

Staniforth has be competing with Arnold, Carter and Enever for game time after making his Super Rugby debut as a teenager in 2014.

He had to wait 700 days for a chance to add to his games tally, but the now-22-year-old has established himself as a reliable second-rower.

Most Canberra rugby juniors grow up hating big-brother NSW, but Staniforth says he takes no ill-will to the harbour city.

"It will definitely be strange playing for a new club. I grew up idolising the Brumbies and it's been a big decision to leave," Staniforth said.

"For me it was more about loving the Brumbies rather than hating any other clubs or anything like that.

"I'm thrilled that I got a chance to play for the team I grew up watching. It was a dream of mine.

"It will be difficult to play against the Brumbies but once you get out there, it's just a game. It will be fine."

Staniforth has played 21 games for the Brumbies, but just two of those have been in the starting XV. Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson said he was impressed by what he'd seen of Staniforth.

"Tom is a young hard-working player who hasn't had too many opportunities in Canberra but he impressed me with his no-nonsense attitude and I'm really looking forward to working with him, to help him succeed in Super Rugby," Gibson said.

"He'll have the chance to work his way into the match day squad and his attitude will count for a lot and I think he'll do well here, learning in a new environment."

The Brumbies will restart their finals preparation when they play the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

SUPER RUGBY ROUND 16

Friday: Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium, 7.45pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 1.