The Brumbies are chasing a historic victory in South Africa on Sunday morning Australian time and are aiming to become the first team to beat the Pretoria Bulls in a finals match at Loftus Versfeld.

A victory could earn them a home grand final next week.

Mowen and the new-generation Brumbies broke a nine-year finals drought this season.

Coach Jake White says it's because a team that eats and sleeps together, wins together.

Before taking on the Bulls, Mowen and White spoke to The Canberra Times about the Brumbies' championship dream.

Why can you win a championship this year?

Jake White: Because we work hard. That's the bottom line, they don't take shortcuts and you can't take shortcuts in this game. The other thing is we spend so much time together as a team.

Ben Mowen: I think we've got the building blocks for knockout footy. We play a sudden-death style of football. We've played each week through the finals and that has suited us. Potentially, if we get there, our best game can be in the final.

Has the pressure changed?

JW: I don't know if the pressure has, but the expectation has been highlighted. There is an expectation when you're part of the Brumbies. It's never going to change. You come to the Brumbies, you have to win. You have to want to win.

BM: The internal pressure has always been the same. We've spoken about winning championships from day one, even when we were a motley crew. We didn't even have training kit, we were wearing club jerseys and training hard. We knew if we worked hard we'd put ourselves in a position to achieve something. We knew it had to turn into a trophy. This year we're a better side.

How do you beat the Bulls in Pretoria?

JW: You have to be at the top of your game and stick to the little moments. You have to win every little moment and believe in the things we do, regardless of the outside pressures.

BM: You have to beat them at their own game, win the battle of the air and put huge heat on the Bulls' set-piece. There's a feeling around our group that there are opportunities.

Are the Brumbies ahead of your championship schedule?

JW: We are, cast your mind back to our training camp in Narrabeen in July 2011, we were a bunch of nobodies. If you said to me then we'd be playing the Bulls in a semi-final, no way would I have believed it. But I'm not surprised, I'm glad and chuffed because it proves the hard work and effort these guys have put in has been worth it.

BM: It's a pretty impressive time frame in terms of what we've done. But we've always wanted success and aimed for it, now the challenge is to keep getting better.

Why has the program been successful so quickly?

JW: Simple - just the hard work. It's almost like when I took over the Springboks, they wanted to do well and would do anything to get that. They were begging to get it right. Everyone has bought into wanting to make it.

BM: It comes down to personalities. We've got a strong work ethic and it's the closest side I've ever been a part of. We've built bonds and we have had success because of the off-field relationships. Your family is your teammates.

Has the measure of success changed?

JW: No, because winning has always been the measure of success at the Brumbies. That's the challenge of every Brumbies player.

BM: Not really. When we first got together in Narrabeen we talked about becoming a championship side. Now we're in it up to our noses this season.