Now expectations and the pressure has changed. Making the finals is the target and anything less will be considered a failure. Of course, it’s easy to say that now with no injuries and a mountain of confidence.

The test will come when the Brumbies are put under pressure by teams gunning to knock them off. They had the luxury of being underdogs last season. Now they’ve got a target on their backs.

THE STRENGTHS

The forward pack. If everyone stays fit, the Brumbies have the talent to boast one of the most dominant forward packs in the competition. They’ve added David Pocock at openside flanker, have an all-Wallaby front row and have plenty of tall timber for the lineout.

The luxury White has is he can keep destructive ball-runner Fotu Auelua on the bench in some matches and use him as an impact player when the opposition gets tired. Add in some Scott Fardy mongrel and it’s a well-rounded pack.

THE WEAKNESSES

Hooker depth. Stephen Moore is an outstanding player and will go down as one of the greatest in Australian rugby history. His consistency and work ethic set the standard for the young Brumbies. But with another big workload, there will come a time when he needs a break.

The Brumbies’ two back-up rakes – Siliva Siliva and Josh Mann-Rea – have just one Super Rugby cap between them. Siliva is a former Australian under-20s hooker and he’ll get a chance to show he can handle Super Rugby.

SECOND YEAR SYNDROME

The Brumbies burst out of rugby obscurity last year with a team full of players most had never heard of. Second-year syndrome is usually associated with rugby league. After a breakout season, rookies tend to go missing when the expectation increases. But White and his coaching staff have worked hard to ensure there’s not a similar situation at Brumbyland. Only time will tell if he’s been successful.

THE RECRUITS

The two biggest names are David Pocock and Clyde Rathbone. Pocock is at the peak of his powers and one of the best openside flankers in world rugby. He can change a game with his ability to disrupt opposition ball and the Brumbies will rely heavily on him when they’re under pressure.

Rathbone is making his comeback after injuries forced him to retire in 2009. He’s a former Wallaby and a Super Rugby championship winner. The fans will hope he can recapture his best form.

MONEY MAN - DAVID POCOCK

David Pocock is the biggest recruit in Brumbies history. Sure, there have been greats before him in Canberra like Stephen Larkham, George Smith, George Gregan and Stirling Mortlock. But in terms of luring a player to the capital who’s in the prime of his career, Pocock stands alone.

The Wallabies No7 is widely regarded as one of the world’s best flankers. He can have a major impact on a game and is one of the most influential players in the competition. The 24-year old joins the Brumbies leadership group with Ben Mowen as captain and Stephen Moore and Christian Lealiifano as deputies.

One of the reasons Pocock moved to Canberra was to improve his rugby. Despite already having a high standing, the Brumbies believe they can add an attacking potency to his game. If there is one area, Pocock can improve, it’s his impact on a game when in attack. The challenge for the Brumbies is to ensure they don’t rely on him at the breakdown.

THE BEST XV

1. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 3. Dan Palmer, 4. Sam Carter, 5. Scott Fardy, 6. Peter Kimlin, 7. David Pocock, 8. Ben Mowen, 9. Nic White, 10. Matt Toomua, 11. Joseph Tomane, 12. Christian Lealiifano, 13. Pat McCabe, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Jesse Mogg.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Finals or bust is a lot of pressure on a team which still has so much more to learn. But that’s the situation they find themselves in. They know they let a perfect opportunity slip last season. Now they’ve got a chance to atone for their mistake.

Their draw is relatively good – hosting the Pretoria Bulls and the Canterbury Crusaders instead of playing them on the road always helps. But getting wins in their first three games against Australian opposition will be crucial before a two-game trip to South Africa. If they arrive home at the top of the conference, they’ll be set for a charge to the finals.