In Canberra they are preparing for a mighty celebration after Saturday's Super 12 final between the Brumbies and the Sharks.

And if it depends on the home supporters and certain members of the Australian media the Sharks shouldn't have gone to the trouble of even pitching up for the game - a Brumbies win is a foregone conclusion.

The Sydney Morning Herald's rugby writer says Australia's capital should start getting out the bubbly, because from Saturday night the Brumbies will be the new Super 12 champions. They will erase the emotional scars of having lost Super 12 finals in 1997 and last year.

Greg Growden writes that the 2001 Sharks are nowhere near the same calibre of the opponents of 1997, Auckland, or 2000, the Crusaders. And it is clear he holds the Sharks in little regard when he adds that a substantial final victory is anticipated.

The Sharks didn't impress the Brumbies' praise singer at all in their semifinal victory over the Cats. "The Sharks overhauled the Cats 30-12 in Durban with grim determination and a solid defensive line, but showed they do not possess the attacking unpredictability or nous to test ACT," he commented.

The fact that the Sharks scored five tries went totally unnoticed.

The Sharks, who had their first training session on Tuesday, noted the air of confidence sweeping through Canberra and Australia, but they are unperturbed by it.

While other teams would have used the fact that they are being written off long before a ball is even kicked in anger as added motivation, this is definitely not the case with the South Africans.

Captain Mark Andrews says the Brumbies and their supporters have every reason to be upbeat about their chances of winning their first-ever crown.

"There is very much a mood of optimism here about their chances, but you cannot really blame them. They are a top side, they have the experience, they are playing at home and they haven't been beaten at home yet ... so everything basically favours them," Andrews said from Sydney on Tuesday.

"You cannot blame the Brumbies for feeling they are the favourites," the lock added.

He said they won't use that as motivational tool. "No, with us it works differently. We would like to win, but it is just another game for us and we want to concentrate on what we need to do in order to win the game."

Maybe Andrews will change his tune if he reads the rest of The Sydney Morning Herald's ode to the Brumbies: "The unavailability of Stirling Mortlock and Owen Finegan is a blow, but ACT have the enormous advantage of possessing the most resourceful, adaptable, and richest of playing squads.

"Their reserves' bench is the best in the Super 12 by the length of Lake George, and they use it so well."

Growden concludes by saying the Brumbies deserve to be Super 12 victors. "They are by far the most innovative, best-prepared, best-coached, most professional provincial team in the world, and it is high time they received their just rewards."

Now if that's not enough to make the Sharks see red ...