ACT Brumbies rookie Ben Hyne says he'll continue to fight for a Super Rugby starting spot despite the looming return of Wallabies flanker Scott Fardy.
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Hyne is in contention to play back to back games for the first time of his career after Fardy was rested last weekend.
Fardy is set to return to the Brumbies' starting XV for the clash against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday night, but prop Scott Sio is unlikely to make his comeback from a hamstring injury.
Hyne is competing with Blake Enever and Tom Staniforth for a spot in the Brumbies' game-day squad and the 23-year-old is keen to build on his experience against the Western Force last weekend.
Queensland junior Hyne is preparing for his first Brumbies-Waratahs derby, but his dislike of NSW comes from rugby league instead of Super Rugby.
"I took a lot of confidence [out of last weekend], I felt I deserved to be there," Hyne said.
"I've never played in a derby like this, it's definitely been great to see the energy in the boys and how intense the training gets when 'Tah Week' comes around.
"I grew up in a strong rugby league background so the NSW-Queensland derby is a lot more fierce than rugby, but growing up as a Queenslander definitely hate NSW."
Brumbies hooker Josh Mann-Rea added: "There's a lot to play for, it's going to be a really fierce encounter I reckon. Tah week is a very special week for the Brumbies.
"This week everyone's a little bit more amped and training is a little bit more physical."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND FOUR
Saturday: NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies at Allianz Stadium, 7.45pm.