A cross-code schedule clash with the Canberra Raiders has prevented the Brumbies from securing a Saturday night fixture in the first round of the finals next week.

They will instead play on either Friday night or Sunday afternoon, depending on who they play against.

Brumbies members have bought more than 8000 tickets, despite the date for the game being unknown. Tickets went on sale to the public on Wednesday.

If the ladder remains as it stands, the third-placed Brumbies will play the sixth-placed Cheetahs in the unfamiliar timeslot of 4pm on July 21.

But if the Cheetahs leap above the Queensland Reds, there will be a blockbuster Australian derby at Canberra Stadium on July 19.

The Brumbies had hoped to host a Saturday night game in the opening week of the finals as they break a nine-year play-off drought.

But the Raiders will play the Parramatta Eels on July 20, and broadcast rights and travelling team logistics made it impossible to move the fixture.

The Brumbies will resume their Super Rugby season after a four-week bye, when they play the Western Force in Perth on Saturday, in the last game of the regular season.

A top-two finish for the Brumbies would give them a week off in the first round of finals before playing at home on either July 26 or July 27.

Only one team in Super Rugby history - the Crusaders in 1999 - has won the competition after finishing the regular season outside the top two.

The Reds - who will be without Wallabies stars James Horwill and Will Genia - need to beat the NSW Waratahs or gain a losing bonus point to avoid a first round play-off clash with the Brumbies.

Brumbies coach Jake White will name his team on Thursday for the match against the Force.

The Brumbies' Wallabies contingent - Ben Alexander, George Smith, Stephen Moore, Ben Mowen, Christian Lealiifano, Joseph Tomane, Jesse Mogg, Peter Kimlin and Scott Sio - are all expected to be fit.

Halfback Nic White was racing to recover from a shoulder injury to play, while Pat McCabe is out for the rest of the season after breaking his neck for a second time.

Winger Tomane is back at training with the Brumbies after playing two Tests against the British and Irish Lions.

It was a massive turnaround for Tomane who was playing ''park footy'' in Queensland just two years ago.

''It was an experience I will never forget [playing against the Lions],'' Tomane said.

''My focus when I got off the plane in Canberra on Sunday was to start focusing on the Force and make sure I was ready for the game. I didn't want to have the disappointment of losing to the Lions lingering all week and then disappoint [my Brumbies teammates] with a poor performance.''