Even if the ACT Brumbies can stop Israel Folau's aerial acrobatics, they still have to muster the courage to jump in front of a 128 kilogram beast to keep alive their Super Rugby dream.
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But despite giving away a combined 48 kilograms in the back-three battle, the Brumbies believe they've got the strike-weapons to match the NSW Waratahs and beat them at their own game.
The Brumbies need to beat the Waratahs by three tries or more and then rely on favourable results in two other games to sneak into the top eight.
The biggest challenge, however, will be trying to stop try-scoring freaks Folau and Taqele Naiyaravoro.
The pair have combined for 23 tries this year and giant winger Naiyaravoro can break Brumbies legend Joe Roff's single-season record if he scores in the Australian derby on Saturday night.
The Fijian powerhouse was the match-winner when the Waratahs beat the Brumbies earlier this year and ACT flyer Henry Speight will be determined to get revenge in round two.
Speight will be giving away 31 kilograms in the one-on-one duel, but the Brumbies are confident their cult hero is ready for the one of the most daunting tasks in the game.
Speight, who has been linked with a stint in Ireland in the Super Rugby off-season, has found form in the past month, scoring four tries in four games to finish the regular season.
"With Taqele, you've got to limit his time and space. I feel he's most dangerous in the wider channels so you've got to get up on him," said Brumbies coach Dan McKellar.
"He's a tough bloke to stop one on one. I just expect [Speight] to do his job and he played well last week.
"You want to see him with ball in and and then do all the other things well. One of the other things is making is tackles and he's got to do that against Taqele."
The Brumbies' back three of Speight, Tom Banks and Andy Muirhead have clicked in the past five weeks, scoring a combined 12 tries in the end of year charge to revive their season.
But they're giving away massive height and weight numbers against the Waratahs trio of Folau, Naiyaravoro and Cam Clark. The Waratahs back three weigh 322 kilograms compared to the Brumbies' 274 kilograms. They also have a 29 centimetre height advantage.
It gives the Waratahs the option to use cross-field kicks to aerial master Folau, or get the ball to Naiyaravoro to steam-roll defenders.
"We just know what we have to do against that back three and we're quietly confident if we be good in the air [against Folau]," Muirhead said.
"It's a big game and the boys are pretty keen to get stuck in. The normal game plan is to kick to Izzy a fair bit and I'm assuming they'll send a fair bit our way. But hopefully we get some ball out of it.
"We've been getting to know how each other plays and we've scored some tries, so that's exciting. Our game plan has been helping us out a lot."
So how does 84 kilogram Muirhead try to stop 128 kilogram Naiyaravoro if he swaps sides on the field?
"I guess cut down a bit of time and space, then just go as hard as you can," Muirhead grins. "Hopefully it works out."
The Brumbies-Waratahs derby will be littered with Wallabies position battles in almost every position, with back-line stars to go head to head for gold jerseys.
Tevita Kuridrani and Curtis Rona are competing for the Wallabies' outside centre spot, one-Test centre Kyle Godwin will square off with Kurtley Beale, Christian Lealiifano clashes against incumbent Australian playmaker Bernard Foley and Joe Powell and Nick Phipps battle for scrumhalf game time.
SUPER RUGBY ROUND 19
Saturday: NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies at Allianz Stadium, 7.45pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports.
Brumbies: 15. Tom Banks, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Kyle Godwin, 11. Andy Muirhead, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 9. Joe Powell, 8. Isi Naisarani, 7. David Pocock, 6. Blake Enever, 5. Richie Arnold, 4. Rory Arnold, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Folau Faingaa, 1. Scott Sio. Reserves: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. Nic Mayhew, 18. Les Leulua’iali’i-Makin, 19. Sam Carter, 20. Lachlan McCaffrey, 21. Matt Lucas, 22. Wharenui Hawera, 23. Lausii Taliauli.
Waratahs: 15. Israel Folau, 14. Cam Clark, 13. Curtis Rona, 12. Kurtley Beale, 11. Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10. Bernard Foley (c), 9. Nick Phipps, 8. Michael Wells, 7. Will Miller, 6. Ned Hanigan, 5. Rob Simmons, 4. Jed Holloway, 3. Sekope Kepu, 2. Damien Fitzpatrick, 1. Tom Robertson. Reserves: 16. Tolu Latu, 17. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18. Paddy Ryan, 19. Tom Staniforth, 20. Brad Wilkin, 21. Jake Gordon, 22. Bryce Hegarty, 23. Alex Newsome.
