The ACT Brumbies started the season with a mission to rebuild a Canberra Stadium fortress, now they want fans to fill the stands to finish the job on Saturday night.
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The Brumbies will be chasing their seventh consecutive win at home when they play the Queensland Reds in the last game of the regular season.
The dangerous Reds will pose a significant challenge for the finals-bound Brumbies given they've won three of the past four games between the Australian rivals.
But getting a big crowd will be the biggest challenge for the Canberra club as its aims to avoid the lowest average attendances in its Super Rugby history.
The Brumbies need 8812 fans at the game to avoid the unwanted record, but officials are hoping multiple reasons help them crack 10,000.
The Brumbies will celebrate their first Pasifika Day with a special jersey and stalls around the concourse, with Youth in Union the selected match-day charity.
The team has won its past five games in a row, the longest winning streak since 2007, and has already secured a spot in the finals.
"We hope our fans come out because we feel like we're putting on the performances for them to enjoy," said prop Allan Alaalatoa.
BRUMBIES NEWS
"We have to continue to put on a good performance for them. Knowing you've got your family, friends and fans backing you up, it makes you go that extra distance because you never want to disappoint your home fans.
"We set that goal of [Canberra Stadium] being a fortress, that motivates us, that makes us stick to it. We want to play so well that it's worth rugging up in cold weather to watch us play some quality football."
The Brumbies will host a finals match in week one of the play-offs after winning the Australian conference title last weekend.
It is hoped winning form and a late-season resurgence will convince fans to jump on the bandwagon now rather than waiting for the finals contest.
"I feel like the last games we've had at Canberra, we've really turned it around," said Scott Sio.
"It's a pretty cool weekend with Pasifika round, something new and different. I just urge everyone to get out there and experience it.
"We want to put on a show and get a good result as well."
Almost 50 per cent of the Brumbies squad have Polynesian heritage, prompting the club to wear a specially-designed jersey to end the regular season.
"I'm impressed by the way this team and organisation has embraced [Pasifika Day]," Sio said.
"That's something that's really special and something a lot of clubs haven't done. I'm thankful to the Brumbies for celebrating how far we've come."
Alaalatoa said: "I'll be able to smell the taro, the chop suey ... the pork buns when I walk into the ground, but I've already told my parents to save some so I can eat after the game."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND 18
Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
