The ACT Brumbies hope one of the most experienced benches in Super Rugby will help them "bring the hammer down" on the Otago Highlanders on Saturday night.
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But returning prop Scott Sio says the Brumbies won't be motivated by revenge after the Highlanders ended their season last year in a heartbreaking quarter final in Canberra.
Sio has recovered from a hamstring problem and is ready to unleash months of injury frustration in his first game since December.
The Wallabies front-rower has started on the Brumbies bench in just two of his past 44 games for the club after establishing himself as one of the best loosehead props in Super Rugby.
He says his job against the Highlanders is to team up with 134-game veteran Ben Alexander and Test lock Rory Arnold as reserves to ensure the Brumbies power home in the second half.
"Your mindset doesn't change, but you know that you're playing in what we call 'the championship minutes'," Sio said.
"The last 20 minutes of the game, we're there to really finish the game off and put the hammer down. It's little adjustments, but nothing new for me.
"I had to make sure I knew that I had full confidence in [my hamstring] and you've got to put the team first. I had to ask the question: am I going to contribute my full ability to the team?
"Unfortunately I wasn't [last week] ... it's pretty exciting, I haven't played since December 3 and haven't been back [at Canberra Stadium] since we lost to the Highlanders last year."
The Brumbies are targeting their first win against a New Zealand since in more than a year and just their third trans-Tasman win in the past three seasons.
The Highlanders have a dismal record in the capital, winning just three games in Canberra in Super Rugby history.
But coach Tony Brown fired a barb at the new-look Brumbies earlier this week, declaring the club "isn't as good as what they used to be".
Brown's verbal jab will add fuel to the fire already burning after the Brumbies suffered finals heartbreak against the Highlanders last year.
"Ironically my last game [at Canberra Stadium] was against the Highlanders," Sio said.
"When you come into a new season, you put the past behind you and move forward. That's what we're doing, we've got a new team and a new dynamic.
"If you're looking too much [at redemption], then you're mindset's not the right way. It's a new Highlanders side as well so we just have to look at ourselves and trust our processes."
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has shuffled his side despite winning the past two matches.
Sio, Chris Alcock, James Dargaville, Saia Faingaa and Tom Staniforth have all been added to the game-day squad while Blake Enever will start at lock and hooker Robbie Abel will wear the No. 2 jersey for the first time in his Super Rugby career.
Australian teams have struggled to beat international rivals in recent seasons and the Queensland Reds are the only ones to have claimed an international scalp this year.
Australian teams won just three of the past 32 trans-Tasman matches, but Brumbies skipper Sam Carter said it's time to end the rot.
"The margin for error [against New Zealand teams] is so small, so we have to make sure we're right on our game because they'll capitalise on those opportunities if we give them," said Brumbies skipper Sam Carter.
"We haven't won against a New Zealand opposition since round one last year ... I still [remember the final], it went down to the wire. We want to rectify that."
"Our game plan hasn't changed, we know there are certain threats we have to nullify. I've got no doubt we'll put in a good performance."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND FIVE
Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Otago Highlanders at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm. Tickets available at Ticketek.
Brumbies team: 15. Aidan Toua, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Kyle Godwin, 11. James Dargaville, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 9. Joe Powell, 8. Jordan Smiler, 7. Chris Alcock, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Blake Enever, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Robbie Abel, 1. Nic Mayhew. Reserves: 16. Saia Faingaa, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Ben Alexander, 19. Rory Arnold, 20. Tom Staniforth, 21. Lolo Fakaosilea, 22. De Wet Roos, 23. Jordan Jackson-Hope.
Highlanders team: 15. Ben Smith, 14. Patelesio Tomkinson, 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 12. Richard Buckman, 11. Patrick Osborne, 10. Fletcher Smith, 9 Aaron Smith, 8. Luke Whitelock, 7. Dillon Hunt, 6. Elliot Dixon, 5. Tom Franklin, 4. Alex Ainley, 3. Siate Tokolahi, 2. Liam Coltman, 1. Daniel Lienert-Brown. Reserves: 16. Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17. Aki Seiuli, 18. Siosuia Halanukonuka, 19. Joe Wheeler, 20. Gareth Evans, 21. Kayne Hammington, 22. Marty Banks, 23. Matt Faddes.
