'Looks like a tall prop': Brumbies eye battle against ex-teammate Tom Staniforth in Waratahs clash

Four front-rowers, you ask? Well, McInerney ran into Royals premiership-winning teammate Tom Staniforth last week and it gave him ammunition for the biggest home game of the ACT Brumbies' season.

"He's let himself go a bit around the edges. I saw him at the hotel in Wollongong, he's getting around looking like a tall prop," McInerney grins.

"I love playing with him and against him. He's a real pest. But he has calmed down a bit since he got married a [few weeks ago].

"He's a quality team man and he's going well for the Tahs. But I'll get stuck into him. He's not as much of a pest any more, but I'm sure he'll try to put me off."

McInerney lobbed the first cross-border grenade into Waratahs camp, although it was done with tongue firmly in cheek as he signed autographs at the Matt Giteau Cup on Tuesday.

Former Brumby Staniforth has set himself as a mainstay of the NSW pack since 2018, when he did the unthinkable for a Canberra born-and-raised rugby player by joining the enemy.

He will be the man trying to disrupt McInerney's lineout work, with Folau Faingaa set to be ruled out for at least one more week as he battles a toe injury.

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Staniforth will also be the chief maul destroyer, earning a reputation as being a defensive maul pest before he had even made his debut.

"He's probably one of the softest carriers in the game," laughs Tom Cusack, another of Staniforth's former Royals teammates.

"He's played a fair few games at Canberra Stadium and he loves [the Brumbies], but he's also enjoying his time in Sydney and performing well for them.

"He's going to want to put a stamp on this game ... this is probably one he's earmarked pretty early."

The Brumbies have won the past three matches against the Waratahs and are on a seven-match winning streak against Australian conference opponents.

They will equal their best start to a season since 2013 if they beat the wobbling Waratahs on Sunday.

They'll have to do so without Faingaa, but his absence has given McInerney an extended run in the starting side.

McInerney will likely square off with another former Brumby, Robbie Abel, who has been the Waratahs' first-choice hooker this year.

"I've been pretty happy the last couple of games - just doing my job around the field and nothing fancy," McInerney said.

"To be able to do a job for the coaches and the team is important. At the start of the year I said the goal should always to be to start, so that's definitely my goal.

"[Faingaa's] a top quality player, so I won't get emotional when he steps back into the No. 2 jersey because I know how good of a player her is. I'm just happy to do my part."

The NSW side has won just one of five games so far this year, leaving them stranded near the bottom of the ladder with the soon-to-be-axed Japan Sunwolves.

The Brumbies are still sweating on the fitness of winger Toni Pulu, who injured his shoulder when scoring a try against the Sunwolves last week.

Andy Muirhead could return to the side and NRL convert Solomone Kata has been impressive in his debut season, while Tom Wright and Mack Hansen are also pushing for starting spots.

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Sunday: ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm