Brumbies prop Scott Sio has backed his side's scrum to hold up against the Hurricanes as the club looks to salvage some late-season Trans Tasman pride after three losses in New Zealand.
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Sio's side returns to Canberra Stadium on Saturday for the penultimate round of their grueling season, off a heavy loss to the Blues at Eden Park in Auckland.
Despite the scoreline, the Brumbies took plenty of positives out of the match including a much-improved scrum from the set piece that struggled the week prior against the Chiefs.
"It was going to come down to us as a forward pack to make that change there, we felt like we've taken steps in the right direction," Sio said.
"We were far from perfect at the end of the day but we definitely turned it around at key moments in the game, relieved pressure and gave us opportunities to score points.
"We know where we have to be better as an eight there and the Hurricanes pose another threat at set piece. We've just got to be on as a whole forward pack."
Sio was expecting another tough night of scrummaging against the Hurricanes - one of four New Zealand teams still undefeated in the Trans Tasman competition.
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"They've got All Blacks throughout that forward pack there, and having their leader Ardie Savea coming back last week as well has been a big boost for them," Sio said.
"They're not short of caps up front, Dane Coles, [Asafo] Aumua, those two building a partnership at hooker, Tyrel Lomax there as well.
"It comes down to moments in the game and whether you win all those small moments in the game. We've just got to be on as a forward pack there, making sure we're sticking tight, building our connection.
"We know we've got to be tough, but if it wasn't tough it wouldn't be worth it. The only thing we can do is pick ourselves up."