The Brumbies women are embracing their outsider status as they head up to Queensland for the Super W playoff.
Queensland are the clear favourites to qualify for the Super W final against New South Wales, in what would be a repeat of last year's decider, and they have been open about their desire to return to the title match.
The Brumbies aren't going to let them get there easily, though, and coach Adam Butt was all too happy to let Queensland take the favourites tag.
"I think the Brumbies organisation's always been the underdog and we relish it, we'll take it on board and they can write us off at their own peril," he said.
Captain Shellie Millward said it didn't matter what outsiders expected of them but the Brumbies were keen to prove that the competition wasn't just a countdown to a NSW-QLD grand final.
"We always get written off and so do a lot of the other states and a lot of the media and everything focus on New South Wales and Queensland but we're happy to step up and show them it's not a two-horse race," she said.
In-form prop Violeta Tupuola has been forced out of the side's first Super W playoff with concussion, replaced by Stefanie Stewart-Jones in the front row.
Darcy Read has been promoted to a starting wing spot for the match with Brooke Gilroy shifted to the bench, while Paige Penning comes into the 23 for just the second time.
The Brumbies went down to Queensland 12-0 in round four but their defence rattled the competition powerhouses.
Millward said the side was devastated by that loss and keen to make amends at Ballymore.
"I think walking into the change rooms after the game in Brisbane with the loss, you could feel a big sense of disappointment throughout the team," she said.
"No one was in there going "we only lost by a few points".
"It was a very deflating situation and feeling in there because we knew we could come away with a win and we had that there to win but unfortunately couldn't get across the line there.
"That feeling will drive everyone this week and if we just remember that feeling and don't want to feel that again and hopefully come away with a win this week."
Sunday's match will be the first Super W playoff in an expanded schedule this year and the winner will earn the right to take on the Waratahs in the final at Leichhardt Oval on April 7.
Queensland named its team on Thursday.
The Brumbies play Queensland in the Super W playoff on Sunday March 31, kicking off at 2:30pm local, 3:30pm AEDT, LIVE on RUGBY.com.au and Kayo Sports.
TEAM
Brumbies to face Queensland
1. Stefanie Stewart-Jones
2. Louise Burrows
3. Peta Cox
4. Emily Sogal
5. Shellie Milward (C)
6. Michaela Leonard
7. Georgia O'neill
8. Tayla Stanford
9. Remi Wilton
10. Carly Hill
11. Biola Dawa
12. Sammie Wood
13. Michelle Perry
14. Darcy Read
15. Rachael Crothers
Reserves
16. Anna Korovata
17. Harriet Elleman
18. Paige Penning
19. Sammie Maxwell
20. Ema Masi
21. Jane Garraway
22. Emily Mcdonald
23. Brooke Gilroy
