So the ACT Brumbies will leave no stone unturned in a bid to shut him down when Naisarani returns to the Melbourne Rebels squad for the first time this year.

The Rebels are set to welcome ex-Brumbies and Wallabies No. 8 Naisarani and inside centre Campbell Magnay back into the fray for a clash with the reigning champions in Melbourne on Sunday.

A win would go a long way towards securing a finals berth for the third-placed Rebels as the Western Force snap at their heels in the closing stages of the regular season.

"He's someone that will bring physically, he plays off the cuff and is someone that can create something out of nothing," Alaalatoa said of Naisarani.

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"We definitely know he is going to get some good game time and add a little spark.

"We've spoken about it throughout the week and are looking at ways to nullify that, but we know he is probably going to add a bit of physicality for them.

"You've just got to look back at their past couple of performances at home, they're probably not too happy around that.

"Putting myself in their position, they're going to look to bounce back and put in a performance their family is proud of and their fan base is proud of, and give them an opportunity to make the finals.

"We just have to understand where we can better and how we can nullify that from the start."

The Brumbies are looking to bounce back from a controversial last-gasp defeat in Queensland last week which ultimately denied them a shot at hosting the competition final next month.

But Alaalatoa is refusing to kick stones about the loss and says it will fuel the Brumbies' desire to take their game to another level, which starts with "being very clinical in crucial moments".

"When we come away from our A-zone, we need to come away with points," Alaalatoa said.

"There was a little phase there [against the Reds last week] where we played a lot of attacking game down their end but we just couldn't come away with points, especially in crucial moments of the game.

"Our set piece as well, very happy with how our lineout and maul went but our scrum got dominated so that was an area we had to focus on throughout review and put it out here on the training paddock."

SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND NINE

Sunday: Melbourne Rebels v ACT Brumbies at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, 2pm. Broadcast: Live on Stan Sport.

ACT Brumbies team: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga'a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. James Tucker, 7. Rory Scott, 8. Rob Valetini, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Tom Wright, 12. Bayley Kuenzle, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. James Slipper, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Nick Frost, 20. Will Miller, 21. Nic White, 22. Reesjan Pasitoa, 23. Mack Hansen.

Melbourne Rebels team: 1. Matt Gibbon, 2. James Hanson, 3. Pone Fa'amausili, 4. Robert Leota, 5. Trevor Hosea, 6. Joshua Kemeny, 7. Richard Hardwick, 8. Michael Wells, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Matt To'omua (c), 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Campbell Magnay, 13. Stacey Ili, 14. Frank Lomani, 15. Tom Pincus. Replacements: 16. Jordan Uelese, 17. Cabous Eloff, 18. Cameron Orr, 19. Lucio Sordoni, 20. Ross Haylett-Petty, 21. Isi Naisarani, 22. Brad Wilkin, 23. James Tuttle, 24. Lewis Holland, 25. Glen Vaihu.