Dan McKellar's ACT Brumbies set for Super Rugby AU home final against Western Force

These are the reasons why ACT Brumbies coach Dan McKellar wants more than 15,000 fans to pack the Canberra Stadium stands for a Super Rugby AU qualifying final on Saturday night.

The Brumbies face the Western Force in a do-or-die clash with the winner advancing to the following week's grand final against the Queensland Reds.

The hosts have proven themselves as one of the code's most enterprising attacking teams, with both the forward pack and back line laden with Test caps.

But McKellar says "we certainly need" fans to fill the fortress as the Brumbies hunt for an extra edge on the road to back-to-back titles.

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"Realistically we should be looking at 15,000-plus," McKellar said.

"We've got a football team that has been winning well and performing well for a number of years now. Last year we were restricted to 6500 for the final, but there are no restrictions this year.

"We're looking forward to everyone getting behind the team. The weather looks good which will allow us to play how we want to play.

"It's a huge boost [to play at home], just little things like captain's run there on Friday. Hopefully Canberra and the ACT community gets out and supports the team because we certainly need it.

"It'll be an enjoyable occasion against a top quality opposition. There are obviously some players in there that are pretty familiar with Brumbies people as well."

The Brumbies will host an open training session at the club's University of Canberra headquarters on Monday, with fans welcome to attend from 1pm on the public holiday.

The Force will spend the week in Canberra after booking their ticket to a maiden finals appearance with a stirring comeback win over the previously undefeated Reds.

The Brumbies have beaten the Force twice in as many attempts this season, to the tune of 28 and 16 points, and McKellar's side will enter as heavy favourites this week.

For so many the prospect of another Brumbies-Reds grand final is a fait accompli, but not for those inside the four walls at Brumbies headquarters.

Because McKellar is adamant the Brumbies have earned nothing beyond Saturday's qualifying final against the Force.

"We've banned any talk of May 8 or the Queensland Reds weeks ago," McKellar said.

"They're irrelevant to us at this particular point in time so our thoughts are primarily on ourselves and what we've got to do to get the right outcome on Saturday night.

"We've just got to get our game right and make sure we turn up with the right intensity. We want to work hard and win those little effort areas. That's what our focus is."

SUPER RUGBY AU QUALIFYING FINAL

Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Western Force at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm. Tickets from Ticketek. Broadcast: Live on Gem and Stan Sport.

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