Brumbies recall Test stars for a danger game against the Crusaders

"They aren't actually taking any notice of where they are on the ladder," Wright said.

Which is why a clash between a top-two hopeful and a team whose coach just issued a public apology after his side's meltdown still feels like a genuine danger game for the Brumbies.

The Brumbies have recalled James Slipper, Noah Lolesio, Cadeyrn Neville and Jahrome Brown to the starting XV while Tom Hooper joins the bench for a game against the Crusaders, who have won just two games all year and are in danger of missing the finals after winning back-to-back Super Rugby Pacific titles.

The Crusaders are desperate to revive their finals hopes at Canberra Stadium on Saturday, and Wright is adamant the Brumbies - who are still missing hooker Billy Pollard and winger Corey Toole - are on edge.

Not just because the Brumbies haven't beaten the Crusaders since 2009.

"Because of the strike power they've got and the respect they've earned over the years, with their ability to hurt you whether they're 20-nil up or 20-nil down, whether they've got three wins on the trot or three losses on the trot," Wright said.

"They've had a number of All Blacks just come back in the last couple of weeks. Really looking forward to the challenge, the Crusaders are a big club in this competition and have been for a long time.

"We're obviously chasing [a top-two finish]. It does obviously have a huge impact at the end of the season for us."

The Brumbies will wear a heritage jersey - collar and all - in a nod to their 2004 grand final win over the Crusaders with a host of club legends watching from the stands to mark their 20-year reunion.

"'Slips' keeps telling us how good it is to have collars back on the jersey, him playing in the early 2000s. He used to play against the Brums when they had the 'moo cow' training shirts," Wright joked. "He's in a couple of the black and white photos from when the Brums used to play."

Among those club greats watching will be Jeremy Paul - who made 112 appearances for the Brumbies and 72 for the Wallabies - and he wasted little time in putting the heat on the visitors.

"Great to see the Crusaders losing," Paul laughed.

"They haven't done it for 20 years. It's kind of the icing [on the cake] and the [Brumbies] boys are going incredibly well. I'm really loving their play and players stepping up. They've easily been the most consistent side in Australia.

"[The Crusaders] are under huge pressure, and that's the worst thing. You just don't want to get them on a night when they click. They've shown enough signs this year, but when you lose that experience and that amount of decision-makers, losing someone like Richie Mo'unga ... To lose the players they've lost, they're definitely in a transition.

"Looking at the youth they've got and the players they've got, they won't be there for long. It's a dangerous game, and they always compete incredibly well against the Brumbies. The Brumbies will really want to put something together leading into the last couple of games before finals."

And for what it's worth, Paul is backing Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa to score two tries on Saturday.