Fire and ice: Reds aiming to break chilly Canberra hoodoo

Rugby Australia officials were working on Wednesday night to get clarity on the situation and determine whether the Reds would be able to return to Brisbane after matches, or if rival teams could travel to Queensland.

It's understood the Canberra game has been cleared, but more work is being done about the Reds' upcoming trips to Sydney and teams that will need to travel across the border.

All Australian rugby players are in a coronavirus "bubble", which limits their interaction with members of the public. Rugby Australia is also enforcing stricter game-day limitations, which includes forcing players to leave the field immediately after the match to avoid the risk of interaction with fans.

Rugby Australia is confident the domestic season will go ahead despite the Melbourne Rebels, Western Force and NSW Waratahs all playing games in Sydney.

The Reds will have to beat a read-hot ACT Brumbies side and the Canberra chill if they want to end a six-year capital curse this weekend.

So much has changed since their visit in January. The temperature hovered around 39 degrees at kick-off and fires threatened the ACT border when the Brumbies held on for a tight round-one win in January.

This time the temperature is expected to dip to four degrees at the start of the game and just 1500 fans will be allowed to attend because of coronavirus restrictions.

The icy welcome will be a sobering reminder of the challenge ahead given the Brisbane forecast is for 16 degrees at 7pm on Saturday night.

But the Brumbies are on alert for a Reds ambush as they attempt to win in Canberra for the first time in six years and claim just their third victory in the past 20 games on the road.

"The cold will probably be a bonus for us," grinned Tevita Kuridrani. "We're used to it, we'll see how it goes on Saturday."

Prop Scott Sio added: "We know the Reds pose a big threat. They're undefeated ... we have to be up for it. I'm looking forward to seeing my mate Lukhan [Salakaia-Loto] out there, I might give him a chop.

"The ability to adapt and the adjust is something we've really worked on this year. There were the bushfires, we had our mumps debacle and then COVID-19 struck.

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"We've just got to back this squad having the ability to adapt and adjust. We've got the depth and character in the squad, it's about consistently producing that every week."

The chance to edge ahead in the race for top-of-the-ladder honours will add extra incentive to the round-five clash. The Brumbies and Reds are the only undefeated Australian teams and have been neck and neck for most of the year.

They were the best attacking teams in the now-defunct Super Rugby format and are the runaway leaders in the Australian competition.

Finishing in first place earns grand final hosting rights in the Australian competition, with the second and third-place teams to play in a knock-out semi-final.

The Brumbies showed some of their attacking flare last week, scoring two long-range tries from well within their own half and Kuridrani hopes they can reproduce that attack again.

"The boys have been training well, we know this is going to be a big game," Kuridrani said. "It's a good chance for us. We've been working at our unstructured attack ... the reaction from defence to attack."

SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND FIVE

Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.