ACT BRUMBIES coach Jake White has declared the Queensland Reds ''king favourites'' for a blockbuster clash in Brisbane despite his team leading the Australian conference.
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In what looms as a potential decider for Australia's guaranteed finals berth, the Brumbies and Reds will battle at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
The Brumbies got their campaign back on track with a 30-19 win over the Highlanders in Dunedin two days ago after a month of indifferent form.
But while the Brumbies lead the Australian standings halfway through the season, White said the the Reds would be hungry.
''The Reds must have all the pressure, the reality is they're at home and they've probably got the best home record of any team in the competition,'' he said. ''They've got players who've won championships … The pressure will be on everyone. But we must not underestimate they must be king favourites, every guy in their starting team is a Wallaby.
''There's no reason why at home with the record they've got against Australian teams that they shouldn't be favourites.''
On paper, the Brumbies have usurped the Reds as Australia's dominant team. They had 11 players selected in a 30-man Wallabies squad for a two-day camp, compared with Queensland's seven.
The Brumbies led the Australian conference for almost all of last season before they stumbled at the final hurdle and the Reds clinched a play-off spot.
The teams finished level on points, but because the Reds had notched one more victory, they were elevated to the top of the Australian ladder. And White is adamant the Reds are the team to beat. The Brumbies got some revenge when they trounced the Reds 24-6 in the opening round of the new season at Canberra Stadium. But the Reds were without inspirational duo Will Genia and James Horwill, while Quade Cooper was on the field eight days after his boxing debut.
Now Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie has all of his stars back.
''I don't think we're at the point where we want to judge where we're at, that will happen on its own,'' White said.
''It's about testing ourselves against a team that have been the best, are considered the best, have no injuries, have won the conference two years in a row.
''They've even got a better coaching staff after adding [former Western Force coach] Richard Graham to their staff … and it's a great opportunity.
''They must be better off than they were this time last year.''
A two-week tour of South Africa and four straight games against teams from the republic knocked the wind out of the Brumbies. Their blistering start to the season was a distant memory when they had to settle for a draw against newcomers the Southern Kings a fortnight ago. Prop Scott Sio said a renewed attitude got the Brumbies back to form and the clash with Queensland, which beat titleholders the Chiefs 31-23 in Hamilton on Saturday, would be the game to watch. ''It's not long ago the Reds were Super Rugby champions and they have an amazing record at home … it's a big task for us,'' he said. ''We have to step up our game to counter their form and momentum … there's a lot of pressure on both teams. We're on an uphill slope and we have to keep building, this is one of our most important games this week.''
The Brumbies' defence was outstanding against the Highlanders. They conceded a late try, but it was a big improvement on the 10 times their line was breached in the three prior matches.