Scone provided one of the defending premiers’ biggest challenges of the first round.

The Brumbies gave them a stern examination in their season-opening encounter with only a handful of points in the game mid-way through the second half.

A trademark burst saw Pirates pull away for a 47-25 win but coach Mat Kelly remarked at the time that the Brumbies will surprise a lot of sides this season.

And so they have as they qualified for the top tier for the first time since the tier system was introduced.

Kelly said he wasn’t drawing too much from that first round. The Brumbies will be a different side, albeit one “building nicely”.

“We’re very wary of what they can produce,” he said.

“They’ve got some good forwards and some backs that can score tries.”

“We have to close down Dale’s (Robinson) kicking game and have to be tight around the ruck.”

Robinson is back in Brumbies colours this season and will be a pivotal figure for them at five-eighth, with his battle with Pirates counter-part Andrew Moodie one to watch. Moodie was the man of the match back in that first game. 

Sam Collins will play outside of him on Saturday with Brendan Rixon away. Doug Biffin moves from six to seven to cover for Collins while Chad Lambert and Jacob Budd come into the starting side.

The champs have been a level above so far amassing maximum points in all nine games and only being kept under 50 points three times.

“If we turn up with the right attitude and execute the game plan we should put ourselves right into the game,” Kelly said, adding that while they are happy with where they are, there is still a lot of room for improvement.

The Brumbies have won four of their last five, but acknowledge that Saturday will be a big step up.

“They’ve been the yardstick all year,” president Bob Davidson said.

Whilst recognising that it was only the first game of the season, he said they will take a bit of confidence out the way they competed with Pirates for the majority of the game.

“We suffered a few injuries, which cruelled us late,” Davidson recalled.

In the other Tier 1 clash Moree are home to Gunnedah.

The two also matched up in the opening round playing out a 21-all draw after the Bulls missed a penalty shot after the bell.

Red Devils coach Jason Waerea pointed to discipline as the major area they need to improve.

“Two guys off makes for a tough game,” he said referring to the two yellow cards they received.

If they “can keep people on the field for 80 minutes and keep that simple game going”, he felt they are in with a good chance.

The Bulls are coming off a four-point loss to Walcha and will be looking for a much better second half effort after letting slip a 22-10 half-time lead.