The Brumbies will end their finals hoodoo next month after they secured a play-off berth by beating the Melbourne Rebels on Friday.

The 39-17 bonus-point win guarantees them top spot in the Australian conference and a home final.

It is the first time the club will play finals rugby since Rathbone and a team of legends claimed the championship in 2004.

Rathbone, who scored a double on Friday night, urged the new-generation Brumbies to make the most of their opportunity and is adamant they can challenge for the title. ''This is a much less experienced group than 2004, we don't have the once-in-a-generation, X-factor players, but age is no barrier,'' Rathbone said.

''In 2004 we had Joe Roff, George Gregan, Jeremy Paul, Stephen Larkham - Wallabies who dominated world rugby for a period.

''But where we make up for that is that we've got guys who have that potential. If we can get a finals win now, it can set them up for something massive.

''I'm equally excited about what this team can do in finals footy. When we decided on our goals for the year it was simple - we want to win the competition.''

Rathbone came out of retirement this season to join a young ACT squad and is one of just four Brumbies players with finals experience. They are skipper Ben Mowen, two-time title winner George Smith and Queensland Reds championship winner Ian Prior.

The Brumbies face the unusual finals preparation of a four-week bye before finishing the regular season with a clash against the Western Force on July 13. Depending on results, they could finish in the top two, which would give them a bye in the first week of the play-offs.

Their bid for the title will be bolstered by the return of five Wallabies as well as Smith, who is recovering from a knee injury.

Club great Roff said he admired the way the Brumbies had turned themselves from competition strugglers into title contenders and backed them to go all the way.

''I remember the excitement around town; their performance against the Rebels was so exciting but the best thing for me was the players didn't look like they were getting ahead of themselves,'' Roff said.

''They won't be settling on a finals appearance, they'll want to go on. This doesn't look like a group that's comfortable or complacent with just being there. That's fantastic.

''I believe they are good enough to win it, but when it comes to the Brumbies I bet with my heart, not my head.''

Rathbone is poised to sign a new one-year deal as early as this week after impressing coach Jake White.

The former Wallabies star has endured a rollercoaster ride in Australian rugby. He won a title in 2004 and played 26 Tests for the Wallabies before injuries forced him to retire in 2009. He went public with his battle with depression and then took up an offer from White to trial for a Brumbies contract.

''When I signed to come back it was a bit of a punt, I didn't know how it would go. But it's been fantastic,'' Rathbone said.

''I want to finish with that Super Rugby trophy in my hands, not just for me but for all the guys. We can do that if we keep improving every week. Every moment is a big moment in finals.

''There's been a slow refinement in our game every week, but I feel like we're peaking now.''

Twitter -@BlockaDutton