But after coaching and personnel changes, the Brumbies will start the Super Rugby season as Australian underdogs, overshadowed in the build-up to round one by the defending champions NSW and the big-name Queensland Reds.

The Brumbies haven't won a championship since 2004. But as Moore takes charge of a new squad, the 92-Test Wallabies hooker said the fire to break a 11-year drought would drive the Brumbies this year.

"You'd like to think the hunger still burns for guys that haven't won a championship," Moore said. "There's no doubt the enthusiasm and the drive around the group is as good as I've ever experienced. There hasn't been any drop. [Larkham] has brought some fresh ideas and approaches, that's important. We feel a bit more settled this season, in terms of our expectations, they're as high as they were and we certainly want to win the competition. That has to be our goal and I think we've got a good enough squad."

The Super Rugby rollercoaster has taken the Brumbies from rock bottom in 2011 to runners-up in 2013 and preliminary finalists last year. The Brumbies boast 14 Wallabies on their roster, including an all-star back line. But they are also trying to cover the huge hole in squad depth following the departure of captain Ben Mowen, Wallabies star Pat McCabe, Super Rugby title-winner Clyde Rathbone and director of rugby Laurie Fisher.

Coach Stephen Larkham is putting faith in a new group of youngsters to bolster the Brumbies' depth, with 11 players who are rookies or have played less than seven games. "I guess it has been a bit quiet in terms of talking about a championship, but that's not necessarily a bad thing," Larkham said. "We've retained the core playing group that has been successful ... we know how difficult it is to get to the finals and how much it takes to get there.

"Building up a lot of hype at the start of the season isn't something we do and we won't be doing that. But the window to win a title is definitely still open. We've had a squad together for three years and we're learning the whole time. The Waratahs won it, they know how to do it. The Reds have recruited well ... but we have confidence in the players we have brought into the system and they will get their chance."

Prop Ben Alexander said it was time for the Brumbies to deliver a title to Canberra. "The goal this year is the same, we need to start getting some results," Alexander said. "We had the heartbreak of missing the finals in 2012, fell short in the grand final in 2013 and then lost the preliminary final to the Waratahs last year. This group has been through a lot of heartbreak, it's time we started getting some pay for all the work we've been doing."

Potential World Cup spots are set to take Australian rivalries to a new level with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika drawing up a list of 48 players he believes can be a part of his team later this year. ARU boss Bill Pulver has boldly predicted Australian teams can perform well enough to have three teams in the Super Rugby finals system. The Waratahs finished on top of the ladder last season with the Brumbies sitting back in fourth and the Western Force just one win outside a play-off berth.