While the return of troops gives the ACT Brumbies a reason to rest a few players, the fact they're facing the struggling NSW Waratahs does not.
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The Brumbies are wary of the wounded Waratahs, who are yet to win a game this Super Rugby AU season and are looking to bounce back after their coach was sacked.
They've welcomed Tom Wright, Solomone Kata and Bayley Kuenzle back from injury, with Wright especially staking his claim to be named in the 23 to face NSW on Wednesday.
Brumbies assistant coach Rod Seib said their return opened the door to freshen up the squad, but the fact they were playing their arch-rivals didn't enter their thinking.
"We don't view it like that at all. Anyone who's played sport's been in the position where you've come on the back of a couple of losses and we know how people tend to respond to that," he said.
"And we know we'll be in for a tough battle. We've got a lot of respect for the organisation with the Tahs.
"They've got a lot of good cattle there so we'll know they'll be up for it."
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The fact the Brumbies returned to form with a 42-14 victory over the Western Force last week might make it hard for guys like Wright and Kata to get back into the XV.
It was the perfect response to the 40-38 loss to the Queensland Reds, where the Brumbies weren't able to hold onto the lead.
Seib was excited by the prospect of having players like Kata back up and running again.
"It is [going to be hard] and that's what you want as a coaching group, we love to see that real contest for selection," Seib said.
"But in saying that it's a tough competition so to have the luxury of potentially resting some guys and giving some time on the bench, or giving them a week off, it's quite a bonus."
Seib also revealed Scott Sio wasn't far away from a return from an elbow injury in a boost for the forward pack.
"He's not far away at all, which is another great asset to us," he said.
"Obviously losing a few guys in key positions, that tends to happen sometimes. In the same positions you tend to lose blokes so it's good when they start to roll back in."
Brumbies No.8 Pete Samu wasn't taking the Waratahs lightly.
He felt the 61-10 scoreline from their earlier meeting this season didn't truly reflect how tough a game it was.
The 29-year-old was one of 14 Brumbies named in the Wallabies squad, which he said had been a big boost - not just for him, but everyone.
"We just expect that they'll throw everything at us," Samu said.
"They've got some on-ball threats and they've got threats across the park. They've got a good back three, good attacking ball players as well.
"We've just got to be on and do what we can."
SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND SEVEN
Friday: ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs at the SCG, 7.45pm.