The Melbourne Rebels are taking little comfort from the Brumbies' spate of injuries ahead of their Super Rugby clash on Saturday.
Test players Matt Toomua (ankle) and Scott Sio (knee) and utility back James Dargaville (lisfranc foot injury) have joined stars Tevita Kuridrani and Jesse Mogg on the sidelines following the Brumbies' narrow loss to the Blues at Eden Park.
But the Australian conference leaders' player depth and their return to Canberra Stadium, where they have 11 straight wins, mean the Rebels face a tough task to make up ground from third place in the conference.
"Whilst we acknowledge they're missing a couple of players we also understand the quality of player that they have in their squad and what they bring in," Melbourne coach Tony McGahan.
"That's part of being a really good squad ... in some cases when they lose players they replace them with Wallaby players."
The Brumbies look set to move Christian Lealiifano from inside centre to replace fellow Wallaby Toomua at five eighth and are considering switching Robbie Colemann from fullback to the No.12 role while JP Smith is set to replace Sio in the front row.
"We're really just focused on what the Brumbies have produced over the season," McGahan said.
"They were unlucky against the Blues and they missed a kick on the bell that would have further strengthened their hold on the conference."
Apart from injured prop Laurie Weeks, the Rebels have a full roster to select from with winger Dom Shipperley back from a fractured hand.
McGahan must choose between recalling him or keeping explosive winger Sefanaia Naivalu.
With the Brumbies and defending champion Waratahs both falling last round while the Rebels had the bye, the Melbourne-based franchise have the opportunity to climb the table.
In the Australian conference the Rebels are third on 15 points, NSW on 18 and the Brumbies on 25.
McGahan said he wasn't thinking about the ladder machinations.
"I think where the group is now, we see an opportunity to get a result every weekend and playing the Brumbies at home is going to a fantastic test for us."
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