The ACT Brumbies' forward pack will put their faith in the book of the Lord Laurie Fisher and coach Dan McKellar as they brace for their toughest Super Rugby AU test.
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Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa is relishing the challenge ahead of his side against the Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.
Alaalatoa says the Reds have been "setting the standard" at the set piece this season - an area in which the Brumbies took a step forward last week after an indifferent fortnight.
The 26-year-old prop says the best way to come up trumps in the top of the table clash is to back in their own system and look to set the tone early.
"You only have to watch their game to see how well they're going. They're probably setting the standard there," Alaalatoa said.
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"For us, it wasn't necessarily worrying about them, but understanding what needs to be done within our own system and understanding the little tweaks we have to make for us to be better.
"We understand what they're going to bring, but more importantly understanding what we need to tweak and do better within our own system.
"It's just about delivering on our process and understanding we do need to take it to them in the scrum, the lineout and the maul. As a forward, we're just looking forward to the opportunity."
The Brumbies beat the Reds in their Super Rugby season opener way back in January before the international competition was brought to a sudden halt by the coronavirus pandemic.
Now Queensland is all that stands between the Brumbies and a clean sweep in the first half of the Australian iteration of the competition heading into a round five showdown.
"The Reds are looking really good as we all know, they're an undefeated side and they have a lot of spark throughout the whole team," Alaalatoa said,
"In terms of the forward pack, they really pride themselves on the set piece and so do we. That's going to be a good battle up front, and they have some outstanding players in their back line who only need a little bit of space to create some good work.
"We're going to get challenged, which we have been every game. For us, it's all about knowing our role and understanding what we need to bring, and then doing that."
SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND FIVE
Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.
Brumbies squad: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga'a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Nick Frost, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Bayley Kuenzle, 11. Tom Wright, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Solomone Kata, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: Connal McInerney, 17. James Slipper, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Tom Cusack, 20. Lachlan McCaffrey, 21. Issak Fines, 22. Mack Hansen, 23. Andy Muirhead.
Reds squad: 1. Dane Zander, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Angus Blyth, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Angus Scott-Young, 7. Liam Wright (c), 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Scott Malolua, 10. James O'Connor, 11. Filipo Daugunu, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Hunter Paisami, 14. Chris Feauai-Sautia, 15. Jock Campbell. Replacements: 16. Alex Mafi, 17. Feao Fotuaika, 18. Jack Straker, 19. Ryan Smith, 20. Fraser McReight, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Bryce Hegarty, 23. Jordan Petaia.