ACT coach Dan McKellar is adamant Australian rugby can break its New Zealand curse next year, but the Brumbies will have to wait nine weeks for a chance to end a two-year drought.
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The Super Rugby draw was published on Thursday, with first-year coach McKellar to start his tenure on a three-week road trip to Tokyo, Brisbane and Melbourne in a rejigged 15-team format.
But the biggest hurdle will be waiting for the Brumbies in round nine when the Brumbies play their first New Zealand opponent, the Otago Highlanders.
The Brumbies haven't beaten a New Zealand side since round one of the 2016 season and Australian teams lost all 26 trans-Tasman derbies this year, including the ACT's heartbreaking quarter-final defeat.
The NSW Waratahs will play four New Zealand teams in a row in a brutal stretch in the middle of their season that threatens to make or break their title hopes.
The Brumbies have a kinder draw, which also includes two afternoon fixtures to avoid the Canberra cold, and will wait until April 14 before playing a Kiwi team.
McKellar expects the decision to cut the Western Force to help change Australia's fortunes, with Perth-based players to join the remaining four franchises.
The Brumbies have already recruited No. 8 Isi Naisarani and McKellar is keen to add two more outside backs to his roster.
"I think this year with the results against New Zealand teams was a one off," McKellar said.
"With one less Australian side, there's going to be more depth and I really think you're going to see a difference next year not just at the Brumbies, but at all the Australian sides.
"Every roster is going to be considerably stronger and I couldn't see a repeat of this year. Some people look at not playing them until round nine as a bonus, others look at it as a tough thing.
"I don't think it matters, whenever you play the New Zealand teams you've got to be in a position to deal with the threats they're throwing at you."
The new Super Rugby format will see the Brumbies play home-and-away matches against rivals the Waratahs, Melbourne Rebels and Queensland Reds, while the Sunwolves join the Australian conference in lieu of the Force.
The Brumbies will play just one game in Canberra in the first six weeks of the season, but officials hope the chance to host two afternoon games in the colder months will help lure fans back to the stands.
The Brumbies will play against the Argentina Jaguares and the Sunwolves in afternoon games at Canberra Stadium.
McKellar's tenure will start in Tokyo on February 24 and then on to games in Brisbane and Melbourne before the Brumbies' first home game against the Durban Sharks on March 17.
"I think it's a pretty good draw against us. Starting against the Sunwolves is going to be a tough start for us ... if you get off to a good start you're in a good position after the first three weeks," McKellar said.
"Whenever you go on the road, it's always good to spend time together to build that team spirit and feel to the group.
"So I can see some real benefits to that first three weeks in my first year. You've got to look at it as a positive."
Superstar flanker David Pocock will return after a 12-month sabbatical from Australian rugby, while Christian Lealiifano is also expected to play a full season after recovering from leukaemia.
Round 1: Bye
Round 2: Japan Sunwolves v Brumbies in Tokyo, 3.15pm on February 24.
Round 3: Queensland Reds v Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium, 8pm on March 2
Round 4: Melbourne Rebels v Brumbies at AAMI Park, 7.45pm on March 9
Round 5: Brumbies v Durban Sharks at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm on March 17
Round 6: Bye
Round 7: Brumbies v NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm on March 31
Round 8: Brumbies v Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm on April 7
Round 9: Otago Highlanders v Brumbies in New Zealand, 5.35pm on April 14
Round 10: Brumbies v Argentina Jaguares at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm on April 22
Round 11: Brumbies v Canterbury Crusaders at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm on April 28
Round 12: Bye
Round 13: Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm on May 12
Round 14: Johannesburg Lions v Brumbies at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, 1.15am on May 20
Round 15: Pretoria Bulls v Brumbies at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, 11.05pm on May 26
Round 16: Brumbies v Japan Sunwolves at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm on June 3
Round 17: Brumbies v Wellington Hurricanes at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm on June 30
Round 18: Waikato Chiefs v Brumbies in New Zealand, 3.15pm on July 7
Round 19: NSW Waratahs v Brumbies at Allianz Stadium, 7.45pm on July 14
