The Quirindi export knows that if the Brumbies are to become a genuine force in Super Rugby this season, they need to get the job done across the Tasman.

ACT is desperate to snap a seven-match losing streak in the land of the long white cloud against the Hurricanes in Napier on Friday night.

"Those are the kind of matches we need to be winning if we're going to be a serious threat this season and by our standards that wasn't good enough and we'll need to up our game against the Canes," Carter said.

"There's no better time than the present [to win in New Zealand], we want to go well in those competitions over there and to be the best you've got the beat the best and they're one of the form teams of the competition.

"It would be a massive confidence boost beating the Canes over there, we've had a good record against them in recent years but it doesn't count for much this week because it's going to be a tough match."

Australian teams are winless from 12 attempts against New Zealand opposition this season and have won just three of the past 38 Trans-Tasman clashes.

"I can't talk for the other teams but I know our team is going to be pretty fired up going to New Zealand this week," Carter said.

"We've had two tough losses this season against the Crusaders and the Highlanders already, so we're certainly not going to be taking the Hurricanes lightly.

"Set piece moves, counter attack and our defense are the cornerstones of our game and if we can get those right then we'll go a long way towards winning."

But confidence was surely dented in the ACT camp by Saturday night’s surprise 19-17 loss to the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park.

Even so, the Brumbies remain on top of the Australian Conference with 17 points, seven clear of the Reds.