In a move designed to prepare them for an earlier than usual start to the Super Rugby season, the Brumbies have been forced into a sauna before and after training sessions to help them beat the heat while playing in summer.

Unusually cool training conditions this month forced Brumbies coaching staff to come up with a plan to ensure the players can handle rising temperatures when the season begins on February 13.

The Brumbies played their first pre-season trial in 31-degree heat in Perth on Friday night. Some players expected to lose more than five kilograms.

But strength and conditioning coach Damien Marsh said the squad would benefit from being exposed to the heat with the Super Rugby season starting two weeks earlier than normal to accommodate the World Cup.

"We have to be safe with what we do ... but we try not to have optimal [playing] conditions during the trials because we actually do want to be stressing the body," Marsh said.

"So that when it comes to real games, we'll be throwing everything at them in terms of trying to make them at their peak.

"At the moment it's more about what they can tolerate. We haven't had the heat that we'd like, so we've used the sauna to get that extra heat exposure.

"We've been chatting to the guys at the AIS about heat strategies as well. The sauna can be used before or after training, just to get that bit of additional heat. It stresses the body more whilst in a fatigued state."

The Brumbies also plan to use a climate control and altitude training room at their new University of Canberra base to push players to the limit.

The Brumbies start their season against the Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium, using the trial against the Force and another against the Otago Highlanders next weekend to fine-tune preparations.

Coach Stephen Larkham will have 14 Wallabies to choose from this year, but the club will have to find a way to cover the loss of captain Ben Mowen (France) and the versatile Pat McCabe (retired).

The Brumbies also start this year without Clyde Rathbone, Andrew Smith, Rory Murphy and Leon Power, all of whom added valuable depth to the squad.

Larkham believes the club can uncover a new generation of stars who will be given a chance to prove their worth in the trial matches before selection for round one.

Robbie Coleman looms as the most likely man to move to fullback as Jesse Mogg continues his recovery from a shoulder operation.

Christian Lealiifano and Rodney Iona have been floated as candidates if Coleman slots into the line-up in a different position.

Big No. 8 Fotu Auelua is carrying a nagging knee injury and missed the trial against the Force, with powerful Tongan Ita Vaea stepping up in his absence.

Wallabies flanker Scott Fardy is on track to recover from a knee operation while skipper Stephen Moore is also likely to suit up after a knee reconstruction.

"The only way to get guys to step up is to put them under that pressure of playing," Lealiifano said.

"The new guys have trained really well, all we can do is try to pass on the experience that we have and they have to learn on their own as well. It's hard to replace a Pat McCabe or Andrew Smith, but everyone gets a go."

The Super Rugby season has been moved forward to allow teams to prepare for the World Cup in September and October.

It means the Brumbies' Wallabies contingent have had just three weeks of training to prepare for trial matches.