The Blues are still searching for their first win of the Super Rugby season and return to Eden Park for the first time this year in a bid to end their on-field woes.

But the Brumbies are refusing to take the three-time champions lightly, despite the Blues making the finals just once since 2008.

Back-rower Jarrad Butler is preparing to take on All Blacks powerhouse Jerome Kaino while the Blues' forward pack has six players with international experience.

"Jerome has been killing it ... they've got a formidable back row and a big part of our game is going to be making sure we get in their grill and don't give them too much room to play," Butler said.

"Complacency isn't an issue at all. They've had a tough start but they haven't lost a game by more than 12 points so they've been in everything.

"We definitely can't take a team like that lightly, especially when they're playing at home. They'll be wanting to get their season started, it's going to be one of our hardest games yet.

"They've got nothing to lose at the moment. What more do they need? It's going to be a huge task."

The Brumbies will make minimal changes for the crucial clash when they fly to New Zealand on Thursday.

Jean-Pierre Smith has been recalled to the bench as the back-up loosehead prop while lock Rory Arnold will be given at least one more week to recover from a back complaint.

The Brumbies eased their way to victory against the Free State Cheetahs last weekend and were never seriously challenged.

But they failed to finish all of their attacking chances and missed an opportunity to secure a four-try bonus point.

The Blues have a habit of rising to their best against the Brumbies, ending their finals charge in 2012 despite a lacklustre season and the Auckland side is intent on causing more trouble on Friday night.

The Blues are trying to end a nine-game losing streak, which stretches back to the end of last season.

But prop Scott Sio says the Brumbies big men have to take control against a forward pack littered with All Blacks experience.

"One of the things we've looked at is that they've got six out of their eight [starting forwards] who are All Blacks, you can't take that away from them," Sio said.

"They've got a wealth of experience at that level ... we know how dangerous they are and they're back at home. It's going to be a big game for us and we need to make sure we front up."

Wallabies World Cup hopeful Sio will get to test his international credentials against New Zealand beast Charlie Faumuina.

Faumuina established himself as the All Blacks first-choice tighthead prop last year and the 130 kilogram giant has Sio in his sights.

"Each tighthead presents their own challenge, I've got to see what [Faumunia] is doing well and parts of his game that I can expose," Sio said.

"With [front-rowers] Tony Woodcock and Keven Mealamu - who's the most capped Super Rugby player ever - you can see just through their experience just how tough a task it's going to be for myself, Benny [Alexander], and [Stephen Moore].

"But we relish these opportunities and we're looking forward to it."

SUPER RUGBY ROUND NINE

Friday: Auckland Blues v ACT Brumbies at Eden Park, 5.30pm (AEST). TV time: Live on Fox Sports 2