The Brumbies are pushing ahead with plans to appoint a coach to replace Larkham by the end of March, despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Canberra franchise's Super Rugby future.

The ARU and SANZAAR have delayed decisions on whether an Australian team will be cut from the competition, leaving players, fans and officials in limbo.

It is believed the Brumbies, Melbourne Rebels and Western Force are all on the chopping block if it is decided to reduce the number of teams in the competition.

Clubs have been told to postpone plans to re-sign any non-Wallabies players and there are rumours of a merger between the Brumbies and the Rebels.

The Brumbies are aware of the rumours and the move to merge the clubs would be met with anger in Canberra, but the club is moving forward as though it will be a single entity next year and beyond.

The Brumbies have put together a panel to interview a short-list of coaching candidates in the coming weeks, with the club asking Diamonds mentor Alexander to be a part of the process.

Brumbies assistant coach Dan McKellar is understood to be on the short list while former coach Laurie Fisher has also emerged as a contender.

The highly-respected Alexander has worked with the Brumbies in the past and recently spent time in the England inner sanctum with coach Eddie Jones.

She has also guided the Diamonds to World Cup and Commonwealth Games gold since stepping into netball's top job in 2011.

"I'm very pleased that someone in netball and a female has been asked for their professional and insightful input into what is an extremely important position for the Brumbies," Alexander said.

"I've had a chance to get to know different rugby programs and the Wallabies, I've spent time with the AFL clubs and I'd dearly love to spend some time with the All Blacks.

"I've been a high-performance coach for 25 years now. I've got a lot of experience and a lot of winning success as well, so I understand that. But I also understand you're only as good as your last performance."

The Brumbies play the NSW Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday night, with the arch rivals uniting to pay tribute to a man who played for both clubs.

The Brumbies-Waratahs rivalry will now have the Dan Vickerman Cup as the prize as a mark of respect to former Wallabies lock Vickerman, who died last month.

It will add an extra edge to the game as the Waratahs aim to turn around their form and the Brumbies attempt to silence Super Rugby rumours.

It's understood the Brumbies will start coaching interviews next week as Larkham prepares to leave the club at the end of the year to move into a full-time Wallabies assistant job.

It signals a changing of the guard for the club and ends Larkham's 21-year hands-on job at the Brumbies.

Coaching applicants are certain to ask the Brumbies for assurances surrounding the club's future, but the ARU and SANZAAR are refusing to give teams information about potential Super Rugby changes.

Alexander's appointment to the selection panel will add diversity to the group and world-class knowledge of what it takes for a coach to guide a team to the top of their sport.

"I've tried to embrace the fact it's not just netball, it's high performance sport and all sports are searching for that winning edge," Alexander said.

"As a coach it's a given you're technical in every area, but you also have to understand people and what it takes for them to do their best.

"That's what I look for [in a coach]. They have to know what's going to win rugby games and have a plan for creating that, they can't do it all on their own.

"You also need resilience to get through tough times, and self belief to get through with the plan you put in place but also listen to keep improving."

SUPER ROUND ROUND FOUR

Saturday: NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies at Allianz Stadium, 7.45pm.