That might be because two wins are enough to see the NSW Waratahs become "world-beaters" in the eyes of most - at least so says Brumbies coach Dan McKellar.

Rival coaches have lit the fuse for the next chapter in a Super Rugby AU rivalry with the Brumbies set to meet the Waratahs at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

"They've won two games in a row so they're world-beaters again and full of confidence according to most," McKellar said.

"They'll play side to side rugby and we'll certainly look to put them under pressure ... It's not just about Tah week, it's about the opportunity over the next four or five weeks as a football club and as a group, what we can achieve together.

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"We haven't been at our best since the virus kicked in and we had the break and isolation period. We've spoken about our mindset, we're just excited about this week."

McKellar's jab at the Waratahs was accompanied by a straight face, although one suspects he said it with tongue in cheek.

"Did he say that, did he? Talking us up. Do you think he's trying to deflect?" Waratahs coach Rob Penney said.

"We certainly wouldn't be viewing himself as world-beaters after a couple of wins.

"No, we're pretty grounded. They're very hot favourites at their home ground, obviously, and after what they've done in the last few years that would be an appropriate status for them."

The Brumbies have made nine changes to their starting XV and 16 in total following their last-start loss a fortnight ago, while the Waratahs will field an unchanged side this week.

A win would propel NSW ahead of the title favourites on the competition table but the Brumbies have a game in hand, with three rounds remaining before the finals.

But it's not as if either side needed any more motivation for a game like this - in Canberra they call it "Tah week". Scott Sio is the man driving the standards to make sure his Brumbies teammates are up for the challenge.

Put simply, it's always a big game. McKellar says it has been for 25 years - and one can rest assured it will remain that way going forward, regardless of what the competition looks like beyond 2020.

"It's a pretty tumultuous sort of a relationship," Penney said.

"Obviously when the Brumbies first merged, they took a lot of people from the NSW region. They created a bit of a mentality of nobody wants us, nobody loves us, nobody backs us.

"That mentality still survives today and used in the right way it can be a very effective motivator."

SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND EIGHT

Saturday: ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.

Brumbies squad: 1. James Slipper, 2. Connal McInerney, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Murray Douglas, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Lachlan McCaffrey, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Bayley Kuenzle, 11. Tom Wright, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Solomone Kata, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Darcy Swain, 20. Rob Valetini, 21. Tom Cusack, 22. Nic White, 23. Len Ikitau.

Waratahs squad: 1. Tom Robertson, 2. Tom Horton, 3. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 4. Ned Hanigan, 5. Rob Simmons (c), 6. Lachie Swinton, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Jack Dempsey, 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Will Harrison, 11. Alex Newsome, 12. Karmichael Hunt, 13. Joey Walton, 14. James Ramm, 15. Jack Maddocks. Replacements: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Te Tera Faulkner, 19. Tom Staniforth, 20. Hugh Sinclair, 21. Mitch Short, 22. Ben Donaldson, 23. Lalakai Foketi.