Brumbies coach Jake White opted for a bulked-up forward pack in the opening game of the season last week and he overlooked Hand for a spot in the second row.

It ended the veteran's streak of 42 consecutive games for the Brumbies.

But his absence gave him a chance to get back to full fitness after a bout of gastro saw him drop six kilograms two weeks before round one.

His bid to win selection won't be easy. Rookie locks Sam Carter and Leon Power were impressive in their first matches in the starting XV, while Ben Mowen and Peter Kimlin are also accomplished lineout jumpers.

White will take a horses for courses approach this season and rotate his forward pack.

But after the Brumbies beat the Western Force in the round-one clash, Hand - who is the oldest player in the squad - knows he faces a tough battle to get back into the game-day 22.

''I thought the two new guys did really well last Friday night and there's a different mentality around the squad this year,'' Hand said.

''We've seen in previous years that teams that can rotate their players and keep everyone fresh for as long as they can, they go a long way to being successful. It was a bit different sitting in the stands and the game was so tight even I was nervous.

''We've got a really strong squad mentality this year, we've been training together since June last year and we know anyone can come into the squad at any time through injury or rotation.''

Canberra's constant downpour forced the Brumbies indoors yesterday.

They were scheduled to train at the Australian Institute of Sport on the synthetic fields, but when they arrived the excess surface water made it unsafe to get through a session.

The team will play its second match against the Free State Cheetahs at Canberra Stadium on March 10.

Hand's weight dropped to 106kg before the last pre-season game against the ACT XV.

But after the illness passed, the 29-year-old has returned to his playing weight of 112kg and he's keen for a chance to prove himself in White's squad.

The tight two-point win over the Force has boosted the young Brumbies' confidence, but Hand said they could not relax ahead of their clash with the Cheetahs.

''We know we've still got a lot of work to do and that's the good thing about this squad,'' Hand said.

''We're not going to rest, we'll keep working and making sure we improve.

''The coaches are going to select a team each week they believe which is best suited to taking on the option and that keeps everyone on their toes.

''I'd love to get in the 22, but you don't know if they're going to change a winning team.''

Carter and Power were strong against Wallabies veteran Nathan Sharpe in the opening round.

Forwards coach Laurie Fisher reviewed the game and said the duo managed to disrupt 14 of the Force's 18 lineouts.

''To be honest I was pretty stuffed after 80 minutes,'' Carter said.

''I had a big focus on working as hard as I could and I was pretty tired by the end.''