The ACT Brumbies are bracing for a Melbourne Rebels backlash, but are confident they can overcome their home-ground kryptonite to edge closer to a club record winning streak.
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The Brumbies will be aiming for their 10th consecutive win in Canberra when they play the Rebels on Friday night. It's a feat the club has achieved three times since the start of Super Rugby, including a 13-game streak between 1996-98.
But there's something about the Rebels that makes the Brumbies go weak at the knees, particularly in the past two years.
The Rebels have won the past four games between the sides and are the only team to win in Canberra since May, 2018.
Home-ground advantage is crucial for the Brumbies and winning their first three games of the year in Canberra can give them a headstart on their finals rivals.
They held on for a round-one win against the Queensland Reds last week and are confident they can snap a Rebels losing streak to claim major Australian scalps in back to back weeks.
To do so, hooker Folau Faingaa says the Brumbies need to stabilise their set piece after a rocky start to the season when the scrum struggled in the first half against the Reds.
"We've been over the small things we can fix during the week and identified that in our team meeting," Faingaa said.
"We weren't going to be perfect, it's just about how you adapt and react before moving on to the next job.
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"We knew Taniela [Tupou] was going to be a big threat [for the Reds]. But we have to be better, go back to basics and makes those easy fixes."
Coach Dan McKellar is expected to make minimal changes when he names his team on Wednesday, although Darcy Swain has to overcome a niggling injury to play this week.
Lachlan McCaffrey has completed a full week of training after returning from Japan and will play in the Brumby Runners' curtain-raiser if he's not picked in the Super Rugby squad.
SUPER RUGBY ROUND TWO
Friday: ACT Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.