A club versus country debate could erupt for the second time in 12 months as three Australian teams jostle for finals spots and prepare to go head to head in the play-off race.
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The ACT Brumbies moved into a perfect finals position with a bonus-point win in Japan on the weekend, setting the stage for a showdown with the NSW Waratahs at the new Parramatta stadium in Sydney on Saturday night.
A bonus-point win would almost guarantee the Brumbies' return to the finals, but the Waratahs are managing their own balancing act to keep their play-off hopes alive.
It's believed the Waratahs need to rest Michael Hooper, Bernard Foley, Kurtley Beale, Sekope Kepu and Rob Simmons from one of the final two games of the season as per a Wallabies resting agreement, although details of the policy are limited.
NSW coach Daryl Gibson is expected to pick his five Wallabies stars for an Australian derby, meaning they would have to rest from a last-round fixture which could decide the team's finals fate.
In contrast, the Brumbies have already completed their allocated rest periods, with Scott Sio, Allan Alaalatoa, Tevita Kuridrani, Rory Arnold and Folau Faingaa.
"We won't be worrying about who the Waratahs are picking," said Brumbies coach Dan McKellar.
"That's for Daryl to manage, no for me to worry about. He'll have all of that sorted."
McKellar took a stand for the Brumbies last year, refusing to rest David Pocock, Alaalatoa and Sio from a game last year because of late notice and the fact the ACT side was the only team asked to withdraw players.
But all Australian coaches met with Rugby Australia earlier this year and agreed to manage player workloads as part of the Wallabies' World Cup preparations.
The Waratahs situation has added an interesting side plot to the last two games of the regular season with three teams in contention for finals action.
The Brumbies are sitting clear at the top of the Australian conference on 39 points, the Melbourne Rebels are trailing on 34 points and the Waratahs are lurking on 30 points.
The Brumbies could secure Australia's guaranteed place in the top three if they get a bonus-point win against the Waratahs and other results go their way.
Individual Wallabies selection battles will also add intrigue to the closing rounds as players compete to prove they are worthy of World Cup selection.
The Brumbies clash against the Waratahs is littered with one-on-one battles. Like Christian Lealiifano going up against incumbent Wallabies' flyhalf Bernard Foley, Joe Powell and Nick Phipps dueling as scrumhalves or lock Rory Arnold against Rob Simmons.
Fullbacks Tom Banks and Beale will also get their opportunity to stake a claim to replace the sacked Israel Folau as Australia's first-choice No. 15.
The Brumbies beat the Waratahs in Canberra earlier this year, but Banks warned against complacency.
"It's a big one for us. We could up on them earlier this year and we'd like to reproduce that," Banks said.
"But we know they've got some attacking threats. We're going to have to test them up front and hopefully skin them out wide if we get a bit of ball." The Brumbies scored six tries against the Sunwolves to secure a bonus point and their back line has started to find form at the right time of the year, helping the side win the past four in a row.
SUPER RUGBY ROUND 17
Saturday: NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies at Parramatta, 7.45pm.