They started the season as the budget team $200,000 under the ARU salary cap but the bargain ACT Brumbies are on the brink of ruining their arch rival's Super Rugby finals hopes.
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And while few knew them at the start of the year, the Brumbies will have extra motivation with Wallabies spots up for grabs when they take on the NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium tonight.
The Brumbies will attempt to continue their amazing resurgence when they aim for their sixth victory of the season.
Coach Jake White said ''people would have laughed at us'' at the start of the year if he had suggested his team would be at the top of the Australian conference.
But that's exactly where it sits.
The clash with the Waratahs is the biggest of the Brumbies' season.
The Brumbies have beaten just one team in the top 10 on the competition ladder - the Otago Highlanders.
But they have shown their unknown squad is capable of producing performances no one thought possible and their ''big brother'' Waratahs are in their sights.
''The thing about the team we've got at the moment is it's not about rock stars or anything like that, it's about the team performance,'' captain Ben Mowen said.
''Whatever tag comes with that is fine as long we stick to what our team principles are, which are working hard for each other and making sure that work ethic allows us to play the way we want to play.
''Belief is something that grows and good results reaffirm that. It doesn't change the amount of belief, but our guys are definitely growing in confidence.''
The two-time champions boasted just three established Wallabies at the start of the season and half of the 35-man squad was preparing for its first Super Rugby campaign.
In contrast, the Waratahs had players with Test experience and a host of others capable of stepping up to the next level.
While most expected the star-studded Waratahs to fire this year, it's the Brumbies who have ignited the competition. And they've done it all with a budget roster which comes in more than $200,000 under the salary cap.
Instead of chasing stars when he arrived in Canberra, White invested in untapped talent.
He gave fringe players a chance to test themselves and now the former World Cup-winning coach is reaping the rewards.
Fullback Jesse Mogg started the season on a $50,000 contract in the extended player squad - which is funded by the ARU.
But having played every match and bolted into shock Wallabies contention, Mogg has been upgraded to the full-time roster as he continues his rise from the club ranks to a potential Test player.
Mogg, Christian Lealiifano, Nic White, Sam Carter and Dan Palmer are all a chance to make their Test debuts this year.
Former Wallabies coach John Connolly had no doubt the unknown Brumbies had catapulted themselves into Wallabies calculations.
''They bought moderately in the off-season or had what was left when some of the other states picked their teams,'' Connolly said.
''In the past the Brumbies have had the bulk of the money spent on them with the George Gregans and Stephen Larkhams.
''It's a credit to the organisation what they've done, their identification policies and the coaches as well.''
The grudge match against the Waratahs will be the Brumbies' first game since returning from their most successful South African tour in a decade.
They have scored 16 tries in their past three matches and have conceded just four.
If the Brumbies beat their interstate rival, they can set up a run to break a seven-season finals drought.
A victory tonight would put them two points clear in the conference race for a guaranteed finals spot.