Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd says his side had one chance to redeem themselves from last year's "terrible" performance against the Brumbies.
Stephen Larkham's outfit left a bitter taste in the Hurricanes' mouths when they opened their 2016 Super Rugby campaign with a 52-10 win over the Wellington side in Canberra.
The defending champions came out swinging in the second half on Friday night, however, turning the tables with 42 unanswered second-half points in a 56-21 demolition of the Brumbies.
Boyd said last season's heavy defeat served as motivation for his Hurricanes troops this week.
"We had two performances that we were highly embarrassed about last year," he said.
"One was the Sharks in Durban (a 32-15 loss) and one was the Brumbies 52-10."
Although they thrashed the Sharks 41-0 in week one of the finals last year, the Hurricanes will not have the opportunity to avenge the defeat in Durban this season so Boyd said the clash against the Brumbies was "our only chance of redemption from 2016's terrible performance".
The victorious coach said the Hurricanes played "pretty poorly" in the first half, with three defensive errors costing his side three converted tries.
"No team likes to concede that many points at a half," he said.
"I think by the end of the game there was one side still running and the other side was struggling."
Centre Vince Aso bagged a hat-trick, including two in six minutes early in the second half to blow the game open, while Callum Gibbins crossed twice.
Boyd remains wary of the Australian Super Rugby contingent despite the fact they are yet to record a win over New Zealand opposition this season.
"The caution for me is that it won't always be like that," he said.
"There has been times where Australia and Australian sides have been very good and very competitive over Kiwi sides and it seems at the moment in the cycle we seem to be reasonably dominant."
It wasn't all good news for the Hurricanes however, with Blade Thomson possibly out for the season.
"I suspect unfortunately for him that he has probably dislocated his shoulder again and that might be his season," Boyd said, adding that if confirmed by medics it would be his third such injury in two years.
"That's a bloody tragedy for him. We feel for him but it doesn't look great."
