VENUE & TIME: Canberra Stadium - Friday - 19:35 AEST
HEAD TO HEAD: Brumbies 3 Blues 4
COVERAGE: Fox Sports
LAST TIME: Brumbies 35-7

WALKING WOUNDED
The Brumbies suffered more injury problems against the Chiefs with No.8 Peter Ryan sustaining a grade-three medial strain in his left knee and is out for the remainder of the tournament. Former Reds player Scott Fava is expected to take his place. Replacment forward Radike Samo will also play no further part after breaking his right leg. The good news for the Brumbies is that lock Justin Harrison is recovering well from an ankle injury.
Flankers Matua Parkinson and Blair Urlich have been left out of the Blues squad of 22 to travel with the playing 15. The Blues may use Justin Collins and Josh Blackie in a dual assault on the influence of George Smith at the breakdown with Xavier Rush the third No.8 used by the Blues this season.

FORM
Facing five consecutive losses, the Brumbies staged a dramatic revival with a 42-15 thrashing of the Chiefs in Rotorua. It was typical Brumbies, controlling the tempo of the game with the Chiefs denied any momentum.
Blues coach Peter Sloane said heads would roll if the Blues didn't show a little more commitment against the Brumbies after a disappointing 20-13 loss to the Highlanders. The Blues discipline was poor and they were always going to struggle after giving the Highlanders' Tony Brown five free shots for a 15-3 lead at the break.

WHO'S HOT
All the big names stepped up for the Brumbies in their win against the Chiefs - Stirling Mortlock, George Gregan and Stephen Larkham were all prominent. The performance of Mortlock on a dodgy ankle was exceptional and he is not making Wallaby coach Eddie Jones' selection dilemmas any easier.

KEY MATCH-UPS
Doug Howlett v Andrew Walker
Carlos Spencer v Stephen Larkham
Glenn Taylor v Hustin Harrison

WE THINK
Of the four sides chasing the final two spots in the four, the Blues have the slimmest chance and must have a huge victory against the Brumbies and hope other results go their way. Results may go their way, but a huge victory is unlikely. Particularly not on the form the Brumbies showed last week. The defending champions were back to their best to play in a different class than the Chiefs. The equation is simple for the Brumbies ... win and they will be in the four, and perhaps even as high as third. Lose and they could finish as low as sixth.