Klayton Thorn is ready to cement his spot in the Brumbies 23 as the ACT-based side prepares to exact revenge on the Waratahs this weekend.
Thorn was a late inclusion in the side that lost to the Hurricanes, with Harrison Goddard ruled out late with an illness.
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"Godsey missed Tuesday through being sick, so I was kind of staying ready just in case," said Thorn to reporters.
"I had the feeling I might be playing, but I think every week you've just got to stay ready no matter what."
Thorn himself was recovering from a leg injury, and while he enjoyed fourteen minutes off the bench and made a line break, it still wasn't enough to turn around the Brumbies' fortunes against the Hurricanes - who handed them their second loss of the year at home.
"It was really tough. Disappointing," admitted Thorn.
"We reviewed a lot today and learnt a lot. I think from the bad comes the good. It's definitely a lot tighter comp and it's exciting to watch now.
'Every weekend, every time we play, we've got to be at our best."
The Brumbies have to pick themselves up quickly, with Dan McKellar's men determined to also turn their season around after their loss to the Fijian Drua.
Thorn admitted 'Tah week' has become a lot more personal for the Brumbies with McKellar at the helm of the arch rivals.
"There's a few Sydney boys in the Brumbies' team, but we love playing against the Tahs," said Thorn.
"We're kind of always talked about as the B team compared to them, but it's such a good game. My first year I was with Dan. Going up against him, that adds even more to the contest."
The rivalry even extends to a club level as well, with Thorn playing for the Gungahlin Eagles - the same club as Waratahs assistant coach Lachlan McCaffrey.
The Brumbies embraced the Canberra clubland this week, wearing their club jerseys at training.
"I love how they [the Eagles] won on the weekend," added Thorn.
"I was messaging him early in the week already. Hopefully, I can get one up on Lachie.
"We can throw a bit of chat back."
