The Brumbies are counting on a change in preparation to result in a change of fortune against the Blues after a disappointing start to the Super Rugby Pacific season by the Australian heavyweights.
Stephen Larkham's outfit face the reigning champion Blues at Eden Park on Friday night following two successive losses in which they conceded more than 40 points in back-to-back games for the first time in their history.
Currently seventh, the Brumbies have conceded more points than any team other than last-placed Moana Pasifika but can at least claim to have scored the most tries across the competition.
Coach Larkham has made five changes to the line-up that fell 49-34 to the Chiefs, including handing a club debut to ex-Rebel David Feliuai to add some starch to the midfield.
Larkham described Wallabies squad member Feliuai as skilful yet combative and said he was "happy to throw his body on the line" in defence.
With his side's last win in Auckland coming in 2013, Larkham is hopeful that a mini-tour rather than returning home in the short turnaround has his team ready to hit the ground running.
"Usually coming over here to Auckland there's a fair amount of travel to get here, and we're arriving two nights before the game, and it's kind of a disjointed preparation," Larkham said.
"This time around, we spent a couple of days in Hamilton and we have now landed in Auckland, and we had a good training session.
"We've learned a lot over the last 12 months around our program, the way that we want to prepare.
"We encountered the Blues twice last year, and we feel that we've learned a lot from those games.
"We see the way that they're playing this year, and we think that we've got a really good game plan."
Hooker Lachlan Lonergan will also have his first start of the season, marking his 50-game milestone with the Brumbies after making his Super debut in 2020.
The Canberra-raised rake's season last year was ended after his leg was broken in an awkward hip drop tackle.
"It was a dream to debut for them and to get 50 caps is even better," said Lonergan, who was among the tryscorers from the bench last round.
"I just want to play as many game as I can for them and reaching 50 games is pretty awesome so I'm excited to get out there."
