Veteran hooker Josh Mann-Rea hopes the fresh faces in the ACT Brumbies side can help be the spark to help lift the side to its first win in New Zealand in more than three years.
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Mann-Rea will make his comeback from a knee injury against the Wellington Hurricanes in Napier on Friday night, admitting he feared the worst when he damaged cartilage a month ago.
But the 36-year-old has made a rapid recovery to be back on the field after a minor knee operations and he is on a mission to add enthusiasm to chase a drought-breaking win.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham described Mann-Rea as a "marquee player" and he is one of four changes to the squad to play the Hurricanes.
"Anyone who comes in has to do a job to make sure the boys are confident and not dropping their heads," Mann-Rea said.
"Keeping composed is the main thing. I'm just going to focus on my job, hitting lineouts well, so you're not putting any pressure on the team to run out plays.
"You've got to keep the boys positive ... if things aren't working it's about rallying them up so they don't drop heads and go into their shell a bit."
Larkham has recalled Mann-Rea and winger James Dargaville to the starting XV while Lolo Fakaosilea and Nigel Ah Wong will add punch to the bench.
"We've got a few injuries in the backs at the moment ... Nige has been playing quite well in club rugby and is nice and fresh," Larkham said.
"Lolo has been added a huge amount of impact off the bench so I'm looking forward to that again."
Larkham urged the players not to get caught looking back at a 52-10 win against the Hurricanes last year, but Mann-Rea said it would give them confidence against the defending champions.
The Brumbies have lost seven games in a row in New Zealand, but they have won five of the past six matches against the Hurricanes.
"You do take some confidence out of your record, but they're a very different team and they've only lost one game this year," Mann-Rea said.
"We've had success against them in the past which is good. But you can't rely on that, if we're off in any bit they'll exploit that."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND NINE
Friday: Wellington Hurricanes v ACT Brumbies at McLean Park, Napier, 5.35pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 1.
Brumbies team: 15. Aidan Toua, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Andrew Smith, 11. James Dargaville, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 9. Joe Powell, 8. Jarrad Butler, 7. Chris Alcock, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Rory Arnold, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Josh Mann-Rea, 1. Scott Sio. Reserves: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Nic Mayhew, 18. Ben Alexander, 19. Blake Enever, 20. Lolo Fakaosilea, 21. De Wet Roos, 22. Jordan Jackson-Hope, 23. Nigel Ah Wong.
Hurricanes team: 15. Jordie Barrett, 14. Cory Jane, 13. Vince Aso, 12. Ngani Laumape, 11. Julian Savea, 10. Beauden Barrett, 9. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8. Blade Thomson, 7. Ardie Savea, 6. Brad Shields, 5. Vaea Fifita, 4. Mark Abbott, 3. Jeffery To'omaga-Allen, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 1. Ben May. Reserves: 16. Leni Apisai, 17. Chris Eves, 18. Mike Kainga, 19. James Blackwell, 20. Callum Gibbins, 21. TJ Perenara, 22. Otere Black, 23. Ben Lam.
