The ACT Brumbies will have a handful of training sessions as a collective to prepare for the 2020 Super Rugby season.
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The competition has been brought forward two weeks, marking the earliest start in Super Rugby history, with the Brumbies to play their season opener against the Queensland Reds on January 31.
The Brumbies will return from the Christmas break on January 5 for their first training sessions as a whole group, just three weeks before kickoff.
The Super Rugby club will host an induction week for their new recruits and start the preseason in November, but will be without players on Wallabies duties.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar says they'll have less time to prepare for the season opener which could affect potential selection choices.
"It's challenging, certainly around selection so we need to be courageous there potentially," McKellar said.
"The Wallabies need to make sure they turn up in good nick come January 5."
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Clubs have previously used January as a crucial training block, playing trial games and holding pre-season camps to prepare for round one.
But teams will now have to arrange trial dates just days after players return from the Christmas break, while scrambling to fit in last minute preparations.
Pre-season matches have been modified in the past because of extreme heat, having drink breaks every twenty minutes. It's expected the same procedure will be used for Super Rugby matches should the mercury spike on game day.
"We've done preseason for the [eight] weeks leading up to it anyway," scrumhalf Joe Powell said.
"It won't make much of a difference and both teams have to play in those conditions.
"There will be a couple of drinks breaks and some slippery footy with the boys sweating but it should be fun."
The Brumbies are hoping the earlier start will help attract larger crowds at Canberra Stadium, with the club launching their 2020 membership prices on Monday.
The new membership packages will see a drop in price of up to 30 per cent for top categories and family deals, which equate to $30 for four people per game next season.
It comes after crowd numbers dropped to near record lows at Canberra Stadium despite the Brumbies reaching the semi-finals this year.
Club officials conducted a post-season survey and held a fan forum last week in a bid to gain feedback surrounding match day experiences.
McKellar hopes the dropped membership prices and earlier kickoff times will help consistently attract 15-20,000 fans at Canberra Stadium next year.
"We've turned [Canberra Stadium] into a fortress and that's what we want it to be," McKellar said.
"The more people and noise we have, certainly in tough times, gives players an extra edge.
"What I and the players can control is what we put out on the field. We're confident with the group we've got for 2020 and we're keen to kick on with the developments we made this year."
The Brumbies have signed five new players in recent weeks after the departure of key players in the off-season, including David Pocock, Christian Lealiifano, Henry Speight and Sam Carter.
A new breed of Brumbies will arrive in Canberra for the preseason's start in November, including former local players Harry Lloyd and Issak Fines.
Former Waratah Shambeckler Vui will provide further depth in the front-row while Cadeyrn Neville adds experience to the second row. The Brumbies have also signed Sydney University's Shute Shield captain Guy Porter to their Super Rugby roster.
"I'm all about developing the young players we've got within and then developing the guys we provide an opportunity to," McKellar said.
"It's when the Brumbies are at their best and that's why I'm going to back those boys.
"There's also some good, young footballers who are ready to play Super Rugby consistently, having been in our program for a number of years. It's not like they're fresh - they know how to operate our style of play and what's expected of them on and off the field."
McKellar is also looking for a back as well as development players to complete his 2020 squad.
BRUMBIES 2020 DRAW
January 31: ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.
February 7: ACT Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.
February 15: ACT Brumbies v Otago Highlanders at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.
February 22: Waikato Chiefs v ACT Brumbies at Hamilton, 5.05pm.
March 8: Japan Sunwolves v ACT Brumbies at Osaka, 3.15pm.
March 15: ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm.
March 21: Auckland Blues v ACT Brumbies at Eden Park, 5.35pm.
March 27: Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies at Brisbane, 7.15pm.
April 4: ACT Brumbies v Wellington Hurricanes at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.
April 12: ACT Brumbies v Argentina Jaguares at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm.
April 25: Durban Sharks v ACT Brumbies at Durban, 10.05pm.
May 3: Pretoria Bulls v ACT Brumbies at Pretoria, 1.45am.
May 9: ACT Brumbies v Cape Town Stormers at TBC, 7.15pm.
May 15: Melbourne Rebels v ACT Brumbies at Melbourne, 7.15pm.
May 23: NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies at Parramatta, 7.15pm.
May 29: ACT Brumbies v Japan Sunwolves at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.
June 6: Week one finals
June 13: Week two finals
June 20: Grand final