The ACT Brumbies have been warned against underestimating the Japan Sunwolves at Canberra Stadium on Sunday as the side chases its fifth consecutive win at home.
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The Brumbies will be bolstered by the return of centre Tevita Kuridrani, who has overcome a knee injury, while Scott Sio also returns to the starting XV for the afternoon clash.
The match will be an opportunity for the Brumbies to enhance their finals credentials before a bye next week, but coach Dan McKellar says the Sunwolves can cause havoc if his players fail to fire.
The Sunwolves have won just two games this season and have been dragged through controversy after SANZAAR announced the Japanese side would be cut form Super Rugby at the end of 2020.
But the statistics don't tell the full story. The Sunwolves have lost six games by less than 10 points and almost beat the Queensland Reds last week despite finishing the game with just 13 men on the field.
"Who knows what they'll present," McKellar said. "You've got to give them a lot of respect, they're a good side and they're so dangerous.
"If you don't give them the respect they deserve, as they've proven, you'll get beaten. If you're playing laterally before you earn the right, you'll get in strife.
"It's about making sure we're really smart with our tactics and earning any opportunity to create the space. They're a dangerous team ... very dangerous."
David Pocock (calf), Lachlan McCaffrey (knee) and Rob Valetini (knee) will be given extra time to recover from their injuries rather than trying to rush them back for the Sunwolves' clash. The Brumbies will have a bye next week before taking on the Pretoria Bulls in Canberra on May 24.
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Beating the Sunwolves would give the Brumbies' a perfectly timed boost before the run to the play-offs, while individuals can also force their way into Wallabies contention with standout performances.
The Wallabies will have a camp in Brisbane in the week of the game against the Bulls, giving the Brumbies just one training session to prepare for the match.
Fullback Tom Banks will almost certainly feature in the camp given the drama surrounding Israel Folau, who is fighting to save his rugby career after positing homophobic messages on social media.
Kuridrani is also trying to win back his place in the Wallabies squad after injury and form meant he didn't play a Test last season.
It was the first time since 2013 Kuridrani hadn't played for the Wallabies in a calendar year and he is now locked in a battle with Samu Kerevi for the gold No. 13 jersey.
SUPER RUGBY ROUND 13
Sunday: ACT Brumbies v Japan Sunwolves at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
Brumbies: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Faingaa, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Sam Carter, 6. Tom Cusack, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Toni Pulu, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Henry Speight. 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. James Slipper, 18. Les Leuluaialii-Makin, 19. Blake Enever, 20. Murray Douglas, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Tom Wright, 23. Andy Muirhead.
