ACT Brumbies target Jarrad Butler for re-signing ahead Western Force clash

Butler and the Brumbies are in negotiations about his future and the 24-year-old is regarded as a future Wallaby after establishing himself as a Super Rugby leader.

He is one of several players the Brumbies are trying to re-sign as coach Stephen Larkham works to keep his roster together for the coming years.

Butler has been called on to make an impact against the Western Force in Perth after Ita Vaea's finger injury opened the door for him to get his first start of the season at No.8.

The former Australian under-20s representative also looms as an attractive option to fill David Pocock's shoes next year should the Wallabies superstar decide to take a sabbatical.

"[Butler's] impact off the bench in our first two games has been superb," Larkham said.

"He's just brought a new enthusiasm to the game this year. He's been playing consistently well for us the last couple of years, but I've seen a really enthusiastic approach to everything he has been doing this year.

"We've changed our attack shape a little bit and that suits him, it utilises his skill a bit more and hopefully we see that [against the Force].

"We'd definitely love [to keep him], we want to chase all the guys in the squad at the moment and make sure they're locked in. Jarrad is certainly one of those we want to keep around long-term. He has a lot of potential."

The Australian men's hockey team - including Canberra goalkeeper Andrew Charter - watched the Brumbies' final training session on Thursday as they fine-tuned their plan for the Force.

Larkham has made three changes, with Butler replacing Vaea, lock Rory Arnold rejoining the starting team after Blake Enever's shoulder injury and Tom Staniforth being called on for the second game of his career 700 days after his debut.

The Brumbies tweaked their weekly schedule for road trips last year in a bid to improve their winning record away from home.

It worked marginally, with the club increasing its success rate to winning 50 per cent of games on the road.

Larkham said they will continue to tinker with preparations to find the perfect formula as they aim to maintain a perfect start to the season.

"We did a bit of a hybrid for our final training session this week ... we have a rough idea of how our schedule looks this year but it depends on how we're feeling," Larkham said.

"More often than not we'll have a captain's run this year. You've got to have a really good home record, but we still have the focus that we need a better percentage away from home."

Larkham is yet to finalise his travelling party for the Brumbies' two-game tour of South Africa for clashes against the Cape Town Stormers and Free State Cheetahs.

It is hoped Vaea will be fit to travel, while former Australian sevens player Michael Wells could be called on and Robbie Coleman is on track for a return from a calf injury.

But Larkham said the Brumbies would not fall into the trap of looking ahead, admitting the Force loomed as a danger game for the first away match of the year.

The Force made sweeping changes to their team, coach Michael Foley defending the move to shift five regular starters to the bench and adding the decision was made "months ago".

"We're constantly striving to be better and our focus is on achieving that," Larkham said.

"Some of the changes are justified, maybe the Force's performance last week wasn't where it needed to be. You make changes as a coach for a reason."

Force hooker Nathan Charles, scrumhalf Alby Mathewson, lock Steve Mafi, prop Guy Millar and flanker Angus Cottrell have all been shifted to the bench.

"This isn't something we thought about last week. This is something we thought about quite a few months ago," Foley said.

"There are times where rolling out the same 15 every week - you put a lot of stress on those guys, and I don't think they get the opportunity to play at their best."