What a difference two years makes. The ACT Brumbies' last finals appearance was all about Christian Lealiifano's rugby comeback after overcoming cancer.
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It was a feel-good story and an emotional moment for everyone, even though the Brumbies were beaten and knocked out of the play-offs on that cold July night in 2017.
![Christian Lealiifano could be playing his final game in Canberra on Saturday. Picture: Rugby AU Media/Stuart Walmsley Christian Lealiifano could be playing his final game in Canberra on Saturday. Picture: Rugby AU Media/Stuart Walmsley](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc75vvkwuu05h1d98h4b7h.jpg/r0_23_5106_3404_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
This time it's about Lealiifano again. The difference is the expectation and the Brumbies' genuine chance to be a Super Rugby title contender.
The inspirational captain will lead the Brumbies into their quarter-final clash against the Durban Sharks on Saturday night, with temperatures expected to drop below zero during the match.
It's another remarkable moment for Lealiifano, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2016 and was told he may never play rugby again.
It could also be his final game as a Brumbies player if the ACT side loses after announcing he will move to Japan at the end of the year.
"I've thought about that a little bit," Leaiifano said on Friday. "But my focus has been just on playing and hopefully getting a few more games in before the season ends. It will be special.
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"I was thinking early in the week how special this group is, purely with the connections we've made and the way we enjoy being around each other. It's probably a bit different to previous years, that's why I think we can do some special things."
The Brumbies will be chasing their seventh win in a row, which would set a new single-season record for the longest winning streak in the club's history.
They are also chasing their eighth consecutive win at home. They could also secure another home final, depending on the result of an earlier quarter-final in Argentina.
If the Waikato Chiefs beat the Jaguares on Saturday morning and the Brumbies win on Saturday night, the Brumbies will host the Chiefs in Canberra next week.
"We've just got to worry about what we can control, that's playing well. When you give yourself a chance, you're always confident," Lealiifano said.
But it hasn't all been rosy for the Brumbies. They lost five of their first seven games this year and were in danger of being blown out of finals contention before the halfway point of the season.
"But we've shown over the course of the rest of the season that we deserve to be here," said prop Allan Alaalatoa.
"You forget what's happened in the past and concentrate on what the Sharks are going to bring on Saturday.
"We've got some players leaving, but we're not drawing on that as the sole motivation. We've got some big dogs leaving, we want to make sure they get a good send off by making sure we prepare well for it."
The Brumbies are hopeful of attracting more than 12,000 for the finals showdown.
SUPER RUGBY QUARTER-FINAL
Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Durban Sharks at Canberra Stadium, 8.05pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
Brumbies: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Faingaa, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Sam Carter, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Tom Cusack, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Christian Leaiifano, 11. Toni Pulu, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Henry Speight. 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. James Slipper, 18. Les Leulualiaali-Makin, 19. Darcy Swain, 20. Lachlan McCaffrey, 21. Jahrome Brown, 22. Matt Lucas, 23. Tom Wright.