Veteran outside centre Tevita Kuridrani has a chance to prove his doubters wrong with the ACT Brumbies backing him to deliver in the biggest game on the domestic calendar.
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The Brumbies' off-contract outside centre was cast aside by the Wallabies in favour of Queensland Reds rivals he will meet at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.
The Super Rugby AU final pits Kuridrani against emerging Reds star Hunter Paisami while Jordan Petaia has shifted to fill a vacancy on the wing for the visitors.
Kuridrani's future remains uncertain having opened discussions about his plans for 2021 with Rugby Australia, the Brumbies and overseas clubs earlier this year.
An indifferent run of form saw Brumbies coach Dan McKellar give the 29-year-old things to work on in a two-game stint on the sidelines, but his return a fortnight ago was one to forget.
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Now he has a shot at redemption as the hosts look to extend Queensland's six-year winless run in Canberra.
"He tried really hard up in Brisbane, at times probably tried a little too hard," McKellar said.
"Tev has played in a lot of big games, this is his 135th match at the Brumbies, how many Test matches has he played?
"He has played in grand finals, he has delivered in big moments, in Pretoria, in World Cup finals. We know Tev is going to be a point of difference for us on Saturday night."
He can be that player by preying on a 22-year-old who has "been exposed a couple of times" in defence as he adjusts to the rigours of outside centre at the top level.
Paisami will return to the No. 13 jersey he filled for the majority of the season with Petaia, who passed concussion protocols this week, shifting to the wing after Chris Feauai-Sautia failed to recover from a groin injury. Versatile back Jack Hardy has earned a bench spot for a Reds outfit chasing the club's first title since 2011.
"He's a good player, had some good moments this year. Runs a good line, he's a threat in attack. If you run straight at him, he'll whack you in defence," McKellar said.
"But he has been exposed a couple of times with decisions defensively as well. It's a tough place to defend at 13, and he's no different.
"He's in the early stages of his career and he has done a really good job."
Tom Cusack will miss the final after failing to overcome a back injury suffered in recent weeks, with McKellar conceding he had to make a raft of tough decisions when announcing his squad for the decider.
SUPER RUGBY AU GRAND FINAL
Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.
Brumbies squad: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga'a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Murray Douglas, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Lachlan McCaffrey, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Tom Wright, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. James Slipper, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Nick Frost, 20. Rob Valetini, 21. Nic White, 22. Bayley Kuenzle, 23. Solomone Kata.
Reds squad: 1. JP Smith, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Angus Blyth, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Liam Wright (c), 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Tate McDermott, 10. James O'Connor, 11. Filipo Daugunu, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Hunter Paisami, 14. Jordan Petaia, 15. Jock Campbell. Replacements: 16. Josh Nasser, 17. Harry Hoopert, 18. Ruan Smith, 19. Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20. Angus Scott-Young, 21. Moses Sorovi, 22. Bryce Hegarty, 23. Jack Hardy.
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
