Fill the fortress: Brumbies return to Canberra Stadium against Hurricanes

How about this: the Brumbies have won 15 of their past 17 Super Rugby games at Canberra Stadium, including their past four on the trot.

Sure, the Wellington Hurricanes' impending arrival on Sunday offers a tougher assignment than many of the Australian clubs the Brumbies have vanquished in that run.

So how about this: the Hurricanes have won 20 of their past 22 games against teams from Australia. The only team to beat them throughout that stretch is the Brumbies.

The Hurricanes arrive in Canberra hunting their first win in the Australian capital since 2010, with the Brumbies having won seven of the past nine meetings between the two sides.

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So fans have a reason to be optimistic as the Brumbies return home for the first time in six weeks.

"It's been such a long time since we've been at home. There's a high level of excitement about getting home," Brumbies captain and scrumhalf Nic White said.

"It's been a good week's prep. We know we're going to have to go up again in terms of intensity. We went up from where we've been throughout the year and we're going to have to step it up again.

"The beauty is the finish line in terms of the end the year is starting to become visible. You're starting to look to empty the tank into every moment.

"That's what we've been speaking about this week, just making every session count, prepare well and let the weekend sort itself out. I feel like we're really well prepared and ready for this one."

White is vowing to make this weekend count as the Brumbies set their sights on securing a home quarter-final, but he is refusing to overlook the enormous challenge ahead with five matches against New Zealand-based teams still to come before the finals.

"It's been pretty intense again this week. It's set us up really well. We're practicing good habits around training and around what we're going to need to do," White said.

"We're not out there bashing each other all week but it does go up because the end is near, we've only got a handful of home games left and we've got to make them bloody count, get some wins on the board and put ourselves in a good position.

"Finishing higher up the ladder puts you in a good place in terms of Super Rugby. Playing at home is a huge benefit I feel, especially against the Kiwis. We've got to make this weekend count."

SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC ROUND 11

Sunday: ACT Brumbies v Wellington Hurricanes at Canberra Stadium, 2pm. Tickets from Ticketek. Broadcast on Stan Sport.

Brumbies team: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Lachlan Lonergan, 3. Sefo Kautai, 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Nic White (c), 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Andy Muirhead, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Tom Wright. 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. Folau Fainga'a, 17. James Slipper, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Tom Hooper, 20. Luke Reimer, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Hudson Creighton, 23. Ollie Sapsford.

Hurricanes team: 1. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2. James O'Reilly, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. James Blackwell, 5. Justin Sangster, 6. Te Kamaka Howden, 7. Blake Gibson, 8. Ardie Savea (c), 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11. Salesi Rayasi, 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13. Bailyn Sullivan, 14. Julian Savea, 15. Jordie Barrett. Reserves: 16. Kianu Kereru-Symes, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Tevita Mafileo, 19. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20. Caleb Delany, 21. Jamie Booth, 22. Aidan Morgan, 23. Billy Proctor.

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