The ACT Brumbies are avoiding stoking the fire in the Queensland Reds, despite their Australian rivals conceding they're still seething after a round-one defeat and Stephen Larkham's suggestion that they were "not up to Super Rugby standard".
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The Brumbies are also on notice for some last-minute selection hijinks, not willing to prepare for a Reds side without James O'Connor despite Queensland ruling him out of the clash with injury.
The Reds left Canberra with their tails between their legs after a 47-3 thumping in the opening round of the season.
Just four weeks later the teams play again, and Larkham's post-match assessment is still ringing in their ears and sure to be used as a source of motivation for the derby contest.
But Larkham won't be baited into a verbal stoush, playing down the Reds' declaration that the Brumbies coach's words hit a nerve last month.
"I look at the Reds and there is plenty of comment about how poorly they played in that first round, but they're certainly a very dangerous side if they can get it together," Larkham said.
"I think the journos [brought up the round-one comments], I think internally they're focused on the game and not worried about external comments, as are we.
"We're focused on our game, not trying to get in any war of words with coaches. We just want to take our game to the next level."
The Brumbies have named an unchanged starting side for the third week in a row, with David Pocock on track for a comeback next week and Jesse Mogg still recovering from an ear infection.
Pocock and Mogg completed the full team training session on Thursday afternoon, and Larkham hasn't ruled out late changes to his travelling side if it is hit with injury.
"We didn't want to push it this week ... there's no chance [of a late change] at this stage, but injuries always pop up," Larkham said.
"If we do pick up an injury this afternoon, we will reassess the team. But at this stage, they more than likely won't play."
The Reds have their own injury woes, still waiting on Quade Cooper and Rob Simmons to return while O'Connor and Lachie Turner have been added to the list of unavailable players.
Former Wallabies skipper James Horwill is back, but O'Connor is battling to overcome persistent injuries.
He missed the opening round of the season against the Brumbies, but the Reds have continually made late personnel and positional changes to their side.
It has put Brumbies five-eighth Matt Toomua on notice to expect the unexpected and the Wallabies playmaker is confident the ACT side is ready for whatever is thrown at it.
"[O'Connor and Nick Frisby] present different challenges at No. 10, Nick is a bit more of an organiser and James' footwork and ability to beat someone one on one is amazing," Toomua said.
"There are a few challenges, we'll see what they are. It's no different to round one, we didn't know if it would be Karmichael [Hunt] or [O'Connor].
"You can't look into it. Later in the week you do a bit of prep for your opposite number, but it's very rare that you come up against then. You just have to be mindful of the threats they present."
The Brumbies have been training with detergent-drenched balls to prepare them for what is expected to be up to 90 per cent humidity and 30 degree temperature at kick-off.
Toomua is wary of a fired-up Reds side intent on redemption.
"Any time you lose to a team and you get the chance to rectify that, you want to do. I'm sure they'll want to get us after round one," Toomua said.
"I've got no doubt there's a lot of feeling in this one and no doubt there was for them last weekend. We've got our own goals and aspiration ... there might be a bit more feeling than usual taking round one into consideration."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND FIVE
Saturday: Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium, 7.40pm (AEST). TV time: Live on Fox Sports 2.
Brumbies team: 15. Robbie Coleman, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Joseph Tomane, 10 Matt Toomua, 9. Nic White, 8. Ita Vaea, 7. Jarrad Butler, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Rory Arnold, 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Scott Sio. Reserves: 16. Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Ruan Smith, 18. Jean-Pierre Smith, 19. Jordan Smiler, 20. Blake Enever, 21. Michael Dowsett, 22. Lausii Taliauli, 23. James Dargaville.
Reds team: 15. Ben Tapuai, 14. Chris Kuridrani, 13. Chris Feauai-Sautia, 12. Anthony Faingaa, 11. Campbell Magnay, 10. Nick Frisby, 9. Will Genia, 8. Jake Schatz, 7. Liam Gill, 6. Adam Thomson, 5. James Horwill, 4. Marco Kotze, 3. Sam Talakai, 2. Saia Faingaa, 1. James Slipper. Reserves: 16. James Hanson, 17. Ben Daley, 18. Sef Faagase, 19. Dave McDuling, 20. Curtis Browning, 21. Scott Gale, 22. Sam Johnson, 23. Tom Banks.
