Former Reds coach and new Wallabies mentor Ewen McKenzie expects the Brumbies-Queensland contest to be decided in the dying stages as the best two teams in Australia from the past two seasons go head-to-head.

The Brumbies are desperate to start their campaign with a victory at Canberra Stadium.

They lost just one match in the capital last season and Mowen said the Brumbies were bracing for an intense battle.

''I don't think there's any doubt that the game will be won in the closing stages, but it's going to be pretty ferocious early on,'' Mowen said.

''We have to make sure we win those early battles. You've got to give a lot of respect to the Reds … if you don't you get punished. These games bring out the best in you, you want to play in big games.''

The Brumbies boast an imposing record against the 2011 champion Reds, having lost just one game in Canberra in Super Rugby history.

But the teams are now more evenly-matched than they have been before.

The Brumbies have 11 Wallabies in their starting XV, while the Reds have 12.

It will give Wallabies coach McKenzie an early insight into his Test plans for later in the year.

''I tend to look at the benches, the Reds have five Wallabies on theirs and the Brumbies have Tevita Kuridrani,'' said McKenzie, who will be in the crowd at Canberra Stadium.

''It's an even contest, so if you're looking for anything … the statistics at Canberra favour the Brumbies but the bench gives you a good indication if you've got Test players on the bench.

''There's so much talent out there, it's almost sad that you've got such a good game so early on and it's a hard game to pick.''

McKenzie was in Canberra on Friday for a Royals rugby lunch before the Super Rugby season-opener.

He will be keeping a close eye on comeback duo Pat McCabe and David Pocock in their returns from injury.

Pocock is playing just his fourth game for the Brumbies after having a knee reconstruction last year while McCabe has broken his neck twice since November 2012.