The Canberra Vikings will be wary of their wounded Queensland opponents when they take on Brisbane City on Sunday.
City lost to Queensland Country for the first time in NRC history last week and Vikings captain Tom Cusack said the undefeated Canberra side would be aware of a team keen to bounce back.
“It was an interesting one, they've just come off their first ever loss to Queensland Country so we have to take that into consideration, the fact that they're going to be firing ready to go.
“Queenslanders are very passionate in terms of any sport, so (we’ve got to) take that into consideration and also the fact it probably wasn't our best performance last week as well.
“We leaked a lot of points once again, that seems to be the trend in the competition.
“So, we do have the ability to score a lot of points but now it's nullifying the points in defence.”
The Vikings will have Carter and Wallabies squad members Joe Powell and Tom Banks in the side for the clash, but are still awaiting news of whether Rory Arnold will be released for the Sunday match.
Coach Tim Sampson said Powell and Arnold were both keen to get some minutes in the NRC, a competition that has seen an unprecedented involvement from Test players this year.
“Joey's chomping at the bit to get some game time, to play some footy,” he said.
“It's been a hard slog for him I think, since that June Test window.
“He's keen and he was on the phone a fair bit at the start of the week to get involved.”
“Rory hasn't been involved with us so far but the guys there that will step in are fine, we've got full confidence in them and they know the calls and systems.
“I think it's a bonus and again Rory was hot on the phone, keen to play this Sunday in Brisbane.”
Sampson said City would be a threat in a number of areas, with a threatening pack and some flair, particularly with the return of flyhalf Quade Cooper.
“They play a pretty loose brand of footy, they mix it up, they play through the forwards a fair bit,” he said.
“They're going to have a pretty big pack out I'd imagine.
“On the flipside, they can throw it around a fair bit and a lot of speed out wide.
“I think you've just got to expect the unexpected from them.”
The Canberra Vikings travel to Brisbane to take on Brisbane City on Sunday afternoon, kicking off at 1pm AEST, LIVE STREAMED on foxsports.com.au/rugby.
