Brumbies fullback Tom Banks says the ACT side is prepared to face the Reds in sweltering conditions in Canberra on Friday night.
With Super Rugby’s earlier than usual start this season, the number of games being played in the height of summer has also increased.
While in Canberra that means fewer games in the dead of winter, it also means situations like Friday’s, where extreme heat is forecast.
The temperature around the 7:15pm AEDT kick-off time on Friday is expected to be well into the 30s, though the humidity is predicted to hover around the 30 per cent mark.
World Rugby’s heat policy uses the Heat Stress Index, which is the ratio of evaporation required to maintain heat balance and the evaporation possible in the environment.
When that HSI exceeds 150, mandatory two-minute drink breaks are introduced at 20-minute intervals.
Banks said the Brumbies, who will be training in the hot weather this week, would be ready for that on Friday night.
“I think we've been expecting it, we've looked at the forecast, we know what to expect so nothing’s new, still playing the same shape, same opportunities will aries,” he said.
“It's good to get some training in the heat this morning and the rest of the week.
“I think that's the change up to the start of the season, I think we were expecting it to be pretty hot at the start of the year.
“Probably not this hot but nothing really changes, we go out there and change our game.”
Banks said he felt defence would be critical on Friday night, an element of the game that they had been pleased with in their trial match against the Rebels.
“Definitely got a lot out of trials,” he said.
‘We looked to play our shape and I think one thing that was really positive was our defence.
“I think our defence in the early rounds will be really crucial to how we go so we've really been trying to drive that this week and just work on our defence and our attack will come.”
The Brumbies host the Reds at GIO Stadium on Friday January 31, kicking off at 7:15pm AEDT, LIVE on FOX SPORTS, Kayo and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.
