McCabe will make his finals debut when the Brumbies play the Waikato Chiefs at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

The hard-nosed Wallabies back missed almost two years of rugby after breaking his neck in 2012 and again last year, forcing him to sit in the stands as the Brumbies made it to the 2013 grand final. But, determined to make up for lost time, McCabe hopes to make a difference when he is injected into the back line.

"It's pretty exciting for me, I've been here for five years and have never played in a finals game and to do it at home is extra special," McCabe said. "Definitely [it crossed my mind that I would never play finals], you play the game to be on the field at this end of the year.

"To have never played in a finals game for the Brumbies would have been something I really rued and been sad about. So to have that opportunity is really fantastic and I'm looking forward to it."

McCabe has recovered from his serious injuries to discover the best form of his career. The 26-year-old started the season as the Brumbies' inside-centre and his form was so good he forced his way into Ewen McKenzie's Wallabies squad for the Test series against France in June. But a shoulder injury has moved him back to the Brumbies' bench after Jesse Mogg reclaimed the fullback role and Christian Lealiifano cemented his place at No.12.

oaches Laurie Fisher and Stephen Larkham say the depth on the Chiefs' bench was the difference in the ACT's heartbreaking grand-final defeat last year.

The Brumbies had the championship trophy within sight for 60 minutes before they stumbled in the dying stages and the Chiefs charged from behind. But with Wallabies McCabe and Joseph Tomane and powerhouse No.8 Fotu Auelua waiting to be injected into the game, McCabe hopes to turn the tables.

"The boys on the bench were a bit disappointed in the impact they made last week [against the Western Force] and that's something we want to rectify," McCabe said. "These games, they won't be runaway wins. They'll be won in the last 20 minutes, so the bench role is an important one.

"Hopefully the bench can make a real contribution to going a long way. We've got the experience of last year ... that adds a real fire. The boys know how close they were and they desperately want that chance again. We've also got a game plan that I think naturally suits finals rugby, it's about being smart when you use the ball and being consistent when you exit your half."

The clash against the Chiefs is littered with crucial one-on-one battles, including the contest of the halves combinations. Brumbies duo Nic White and Matt Toomua take on Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Aaron Cruden.

Toomua scored a treble of tries last weekend and orchestrated the Brumbies' attack in a seven-try demolition of the Western Force. But neither Kerr-Barlow nor Cruden played when the Brumbies beat the Chiefs 41-23 on Anzac Day this season.

"Cruden and Kerr-Barlow make it a whole different team," Fisher said. "We’ve looked at that game, but it’s not going to help us win.’"

Brumbies captain Ben Mowen backed Toomua and White to shine.

‘‘Matty is a big, physical 10. He’s in the best form I’ve ever seen him,’’ Mowen said.

The Chiefs have been the most-penalised team this season, averaging 13.1 penalties a game to the Brumbies’ 11.8.

The game is all but certain to be Mowen’s last Super Rugby match at Canberra Stadium, which will also double as his record-breaking 50th as Brumbies captain – surpassing legend George Gregan.

"Obviously, I’m very proud. But I want the pathway to keep going," he said.

with AAP