And Brumbies flanker Scott Fardy believes a big crowd could prove the difference between the Brumbies beating the Otago Highlanders at Canberra Stadium and advancing to the semi-finals or getting knocked out.

Following Australia's famous America's Cup victory in 1983, then-Prime-Minister Hawke said, "Any boss who sacks a worker for not turning up today is a bum", after Australia II had sailed to victory over the USA's Liberty in the early hours of the morning.

Barr took to social media to express a similar sentiment on Monday ahead of the Brumbies' must-win clash against the reigning Super Rugby champions.

With kick-off brought forward to 6pm, the Brumbies and the ACT government have joined forces to try and get as many people as possible to Canberra Stadium.

There will be free parking before 4.30pm and the first 2000 people through the gates will get a free pie. There will also be the usual free ACTION buses to the game.

And Barr has thrown his support behind the #knockoffforkickoff campaign with a Hawkensian quote.

"Any boss that sacks anyone for leaving early on Friday to go to the @BrumbiesRugby is a bum," he tweeted on Monday.

@steve_l15 Done.

"Any boss that sacks anyone for leaving early on Friday to go to the @BrumbiesRugby is a bum"— Andrew Barr (@ABarrMLA) July 17, 2016

Fardy wasn't even born when Hawke made his famous comment, but he knew about the iconic moment in Aussie sport.

He was grateful for Barr and the government's support and said a big crowd would play a part in the Brumbies' chances of making the semis.

A win combined with at least two of the Wellington Hurricanes, Johannesburg Lions or the Cape Town Stormers losing could see them host a home semi-final.

"I'm glad to see the government supporting us in this and trying to get people out to [Canberra Stadium]. Having the Chief Minister right behind us is great for the team," Fardy said.

"Obviously if we get a big crowd it's a huge advantage ... we're hoping to get a big crowd in and hopefully the tickets sell this week and we get a lot of the Canberra people in and then that will make the advantage for us."

Argentina scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli, who has played 48 Tests for the Pumas, will play his first Super Rugby qualifying final in his first season at the Brumbies.

He's experienced the pressure of a World Cup and was expecting a similar intensity against the Highlanders on Friday night.

Cubelli said the Brumbies' record against New Zealand teams this season hadn't been good – they've only won one of their five encounters – but he was confident of turning it around.

"Yes, I think [it will be similar to a Test match]. We didn't do well against the Kiwi teams so that's a good challenge for us," he said.

"They have very good skills and the tempo of the game will be very high, very intense. It's another big challenge for us and I think we can manage that."

The Brumbies will hold a fan day at Garema Pl, in Civic, on Thursday from 12.30pm.

SUPER RUGBY QUALIFYING FINAL

Friday: ACT Brumbies v Otago Highlanders at Canberra Stadium, 6pm. Tickets available from Ticketek. Tickets go on sale to general public Wednesday at 9am. Fans day at Garema Pl on Thursday 12.30pm-1.30pm.