Last year's Super 12 finalists the Sharks know they are under pressure after picking up a meagre one point from two games and they want to bounce back against the Brumbies on Friday.

The team on Sunday arrived in the New South Wales coastal city of Wollongong, their base for the next three weeks, and it is here that coach Rudolf Straeuli must work out a plan of action to stop their nemesis in the final last year.

It will take a huge improvement from the Sharks after Saturday's disappointing 45-5 defeat at the hands of the Highlanders.

Straeuli knows he has to pull something out of the hat pretty soon. "We have just four days to get our minds right and work out a game plan that will upset the Brumbies.

"But that is fine, the heat is on and this team has proved that it does not shirk away from tough challenges," the newly appointed Springbok coach told The Mercury.

Straeuli's squad has been bolstered by the arrival from Durban on Sunday night of assistant coach Theo van Rensburg, flank Charl van Rensburg, prop Eduard Coetzee and wing Rodger Smith. The news from the camp is that the coach will have a full squad to select from as there are no injury problems.

Straeuli wants the team to forget the House of Pain debacle as soon as possible. "Obviously we were terribly disappointed but you have to move on.

"This competition is tough enough as it is without the players dragging negative baggage around with them. Quite simply, there are no easy games in the Super 12.

"And when you tour first, the reality is that you can come unstuck very easily against teams like the Highlanders. If a home team gets on a roll, big scores can happen. But that same team can go off the boil the next week.

"We do not regard Carisbrook as a great failure but we do realise that we will continue to lose if we do not improve. We have to pick it up, and we will, I can assure you."

Straeuli's team was completely outclassed by the Highlanders on Saturday and on Friday the Bumbies, after their clinical demolition of the Cats, will prove an even tougher nut to crack at Canberra Stadium.

It is clear that the Sharks dearly miss the injured flyhalf/centre axiom of Butch James and Trevor Halstead.

The backline could have a different look to it on Friday. Rudi Keil tried his utmost at inside centre in his debut, but a fit-again Deon Kayser (pictured) could play outside Andre Snyman against the Brumbies.

Kayser had a run on Saturday as a replacement and his experience and skills could boost the backline play.

A return for Thinus Delport at wing in place of Justin Swart is another possible change.