'The comp starts now' for the ACT Brumbies following 21-point win over Drua

The Brumbies sit on top of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder after a 33-12 win against Fijian Drua, but they knew it was where they had to be heading into the tail end of the season.

And more importantly, it was where they wanted to be heading into their trans-Tasman fixtures.

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said the 21-point win on Saturday was exactly what they needed after their loss to the Queensland Reds.

But the focus shifted to their Kiwi opponents.

"Job done so far but the comp starts now, to be honest." he said.

"I said from from day one of preseason, we needed to get to the back end of this competition in pretty good health.

"We've got some players returning, which is critical. The reality is we don't have the depth of the New Zealand teams, we never have, we never will.

"We know if we can keep our best players available and not get clusters of injuries in specific position groups, then we will challenge them. And we've proved that in the past. So we're excited to try and get some positive stories happening for the game in this country."

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The Brumbies have won seven of their eight opening matches against Australian sides and Drua.

Their next six games will be against Kiwi opponents, and newly formed side Moana Pasifika.

Nic White agreed with McKellar, and said this was where the competition started.

"At the start of the year if we had looked at ourselves as this point and said we'd be seven and one, we'd take it. So we're happy with that but understanding that it's just ... kind of a foot in the door," he said.

"It's given us an opportunity but that's all it's given us, so there's no illusion to how hard the next block is gonna be. We've got a week to get away, get refreshed.

"We're really looking forward to now seeing how we go because there's the measuring stick and ... we're in a good place."

The Brumbies have a bye next weekend, before returning for the super round in Melbourne to kick off their run of Kiwi opponents.

Tom Wright will be one player the Dunedin Highlanders coaching staff will have an eye on wherever he ends up on the park. The 24-year-old crossed for two tries at Lang Park during his first stint in the number 15 jersey on Saturday.

The winger-turned-fullback slotted into the position against Drua to fill the void left by Tom Banks and Jesse Mogg. McKellar said it was a new position for Wright but he was pleased with his performance.

"It wasn't perfect," he said.

"But, again, I thought his communication, his willingness to step in and direct, and get his hands on the ball is pleasing.

"There's a couple of times there where we probably wanted them to play from deep out of their end, that he'll learn from."

A number of Brumbies players should make a return against the Highlanders in Melbourne.

Banks' may be one of them and his return to play from a fractured cheekbone from round six will push Wright back onto the wing.

Lolesio has missed three weeks due to an ankle injury, but his return to the number 10 jersey will provide a boost to the side's lineup against the Highlanders.

Rod Iona had stepped into five-eighth in Lolesio's absence, but the Wallabies' playmaker's return will likely push Iona onto the bench to become an impact player.

"[Lolesio] should be fit and available for the Highlanders," McKellar confirmed.

"Tommy Banks will be touch and go but won't be too far away. And you've got [Allan] Alaalatoa, [Pete] Samu, [Folau] Fainga'a, there's a number there that will come into contention.

"But a few performances [on Saturday] are certainly going to make selection difficult."

Super Rugby Pacific round eight: