Reds fullback Jock Campbell is looking forward to a reunion with Brumbies star Tom Banks in Canberra this weekend.
Campbell and Banks have rugby history, having played for UQ together in Queensland Premier Rugby, before their paths diverged on their way to Super Rugby spots.
Banks went onto take a chance in Canberra and has flourished with the Brumbies, considered unlucky to miss out on a World Cup berth in 2019.
Campbell has had to wait longer for his Super Rugby opportunity, debuting for the Reds last season and putting himself in the wider Test squad after a stellar start to 2020.
The pair will likely go head-to-head at fullback on Saturday night in the nation's capital and it's a meeting Campbell is eagerly anticipating, his first start at fullback against the ACT outfit.
Campbell said he was acutely aware of the threat Banks, one of the front runners for the Wallabies no. 15 jersey, poses.
"It'll be good to see him, don't get to see him too often and he's a pretty special player," he said.
"I've seen what we can do at training a few years ago so I can only imagine what he does now and you see it on the field. Be good to see him and hope he goes well."
Queensland fell to the Brumbies in the opening round of Super Rugby back in January, on a scorching Friday night in the nation's capital.
Back then, Brumbies coach Dan McKellar criticised the dangerous conditions players experienced.
This weekend's conditions could not be much further away, with a forecast eight degree evening in Canberra.
In that opening round clash, it was a Brumbies' dominant second half that sealed a win and Campbell said they couldn't afford to fade away against the competition leaders.
"I think we started slow, really built the back end of the first half, got a good lead and then got outenthused and lost the physical battle in the second half and you do that against a good side and that's (what happens)," he said.
"The only way you can be a good side is to play for 80 minutes. That's what we're going to have to do this weekend to get a result, just play the full game and take our opportunities."
The Reds have been guilty of patchy performances in Super Rugby AU as well, conceding a 14-0 lead to the Force in their last outing.
Ironically, periods when they have found themselves with a man in the bin have been some of their most impressive but Campbell said they didn't want to make a habit out of that.
"We can switch on, which is probably not a good thing to admit, but when we get a card or something we tend to play a bit better and knuckle down," he said.
"I think against the Rebels we scored eight points to nil when we were a man down and then as soon as we got 15 back, they scored. i think that's something we've got to work on is being in the game for the 80 minutes."
The Reds could receive an on-field boost with Jordan Petaia reportedly in the frame to make a return this weekend after five months out with a shoulder injury.
The Reds take on the Brumbies on Saturday August 1at GIO Stadium, Canberra, kicking off at 7:15pm AEST, LIVE on Foxtel, Foxtel Now and Kayo Sports. Buy tickets here. Buy a Kayo subscription here.
