They haven't won a last-round match in eight years but the ACT Brumbies are adamant their sudden death clash against the Western Force will inspire their best performance of the year as they aim for a finals berth.
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Scrumhalf Nic White has challenged the Brumbies to increase their physicality and tempo to match the desperate Force, who are trying to secure a play-off spot for the first time in the club's history.
The winner of the Australian derby match will be guaranteed a place in the finals. The loser's fate will hinge on results of other matches.
The Brumbies haven't won a game in the last round of the regular season since 2007, three of those costing the club a play-off spot.
But Brumbies skipper Ben Mowen said the team had learned from the past and was suited to knock-out scenarios.
And for extra motivation, the Brumbies can secure a home final and set up a week-two match against the top-of-the-table NSW Waratahs if they beat the Force.
"Last year we spent close to a month living out of a suitcase ... the carrot is that if you get Friday night right, the path to the final is there," Mowen said.
"We've been a side who understands the pressure of knock out football. We got it wrong in 2012, we learnt the lesson and went on a run last year. There's so much experience now, sudden death footy will bring the best out of us."
The Brumbies will be bolstered by the return of five key players for the clash against the Force.
Matt Toomua, Sam Carter and Josh Mann-Rea are all back in the starting XV while Pat McCabe and Joseph Tomane will be on the bench.
Carter has trained just twice since injuring his ankle in the Wallabies opening Test against France last month.
The towering lock played more than 70 minutes with an ankle syndesmosis injury, but powered on to earn man of the match honours.
"It's been about five weeks since I played, but I'm not too worried," Carter said.
"I feel pretty good, I've had a break and I feel good to go. The biggest thing I can add is getting the old combinations back. My goal is to get back into the Wallabies, but I'm focusing on the Force and Super Rugby first."
Wallabies No. 9 White said the Brumbies had fixed the deficiencies in their game after they were convincingly beaten by the Waratahs two weeks ago.
White, who will be playing his 50th Super Rugby game, will likely line-up against his former Brumbies understudy, Ian Prior.
"It's simple this week, win and you go through and lose and you don't," White said.
"We needed to fix a few things in our game ... the Force will be very desperate. They've got the hunger there to make the finals for the first time, we've got to match that and go up again."
