A scuffle between Joe Tomane and teammate Ruan Smith has highlighted the Brumbies' increased intensity as the 2016 pace-setters target the Super Rugby title.
Wallabies winger Tomane and prop Smith grappled and engaged in a push and shove before being separated during training on Wednesday, hours before flying out to Perth for Friday's clash with Western Force.
No blood was spilt, and they shook hands minutes later.
"There's a lot of testosterone flying around and a lot of competition," said flanker Jordan Smiler.
"Obviously tempers are going to flare and you're going to get that.
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"But at the end of the day, that's on the field and it's all love and respect afterwards."
Smiler believed it reflected a heightened intensity in the Brumbies' work this year as they took lessons from recent finals disappointments.
"When you're that focused on your job, when you want to do it well, there's always going to be just a real competitive edge there - regardless if you're teammates or not," he said.
"We've learnt that from the last couple of years. You make it to the finals and you come up short, there's things you've got to change.
"If that's the way you train, the intensity of your training, then so be it.
"You've got to train how you want to play, as the old saying goes."
Sitting the session out was No.8 Ita Vaea, who had a dislocated finger.
With Blake Enever also sidelined for at least a month with a shoulder injury, Rory Arnold and Jarrad Butler are likely to be in the starting side to face the Force.
Friday's match is the start of a three-week away tour for the Brumbies, with games against the Stormers in Cape Town and Cheetahs in Bloemfontein ahead.
The Force have had a mixed start to the season, losing to Melbourne Rebels first-up before beating Queensland Reds last Saturday.
"They've been up and down," said Smiler.
"Some games they play really well, some they just totally drop away.
"It's a bit of the unexpected, you don't what sort of team's going to turn up on the day."
