With their next three games against some of the heavyweight sides in this competition, the Highlanders must get a win tonight to get their campaign off to a good start.
Winning brings confidence and coach Glenn Moore said his side was ready for the match.
"We've done all the training and are ready to go. There comes a time when you've done all the pre-season and just want to play the game."
Moore said the side had to do the fundamentals well, and wanted to play a more attacking brand of rugby than last year.
The Highlanders had a good pre-season, despite losing all three games, and had improved in every game.
"We've made real progress. We made some real strides in our match against the Blues last week and that comes after we had a very heavy training week. I'm very pleased where the boys are."
Highlanders captain Jimmy Cowan and his ability to take control will be important tonight.
Early season Super 14 games are usually fairly messy affairs, as players lack accuracy, which leads to a lot of whistle.
And that usually means penalties, so it will be important to be at the right end of the paddock to take advantage.
Cowan can steer his side to do that, and will want to start his captaincy with a win on Carisbrook.
Outside him the pressure will be on Daniel Bowden to also play territory well, while in the midfield Johnny Leota, who was cleared to play yesterday, and Jason Shoemark will have to be resolute in defence as they face internationals Stirling Mortlock and Adam Ashley-Cooper.
The Brumbies pack is solid, and they may fancy their chances in the line-out, where Highlanders' ball-winning lock Tom Donnelly is out injured. The scrums look evenly matched.
Moore said he took a lot of positives out of last year, despite the side winning only three games, and those positives would benefit the team this year.
Moore was expecting plenty of accuracy and width from the Brumbies. "They'll be a well-coached and energetic unit."
Leota's confirmation moves Jayden Hayward to the reserves, with Brett Mather dropping out of the 22.
First five-eighth Mathew Berquist is on leave, as his mother is sick in Napier, leaving no logical replacement goal-kicker if Bowden comes off, although reserves Kendrick Lynn and Hayward can kick goals, while wing Ben Smith is also handy with the boot.
Brumbies coach Andy Friend, like Moore, wants his side to play after plenty of weeks on the training paddock.
He expects a solid forward unit display from the Highlanders and that they will not move the ball too wide. "Cowan is really the key to them. I expect when they get the ball near to the line, they will keep it close."
Friend said his side needed to back itself when it had opportunities and be more physical in its play.
Australian referee Matt Goddard has a foot injury and will be replaced tonight by fellow Australian James Leckie. New Super 14 rules mean a referee no longer has to come from a neutral country.
Leckie made his debut in 2006 and has refereed 12 Super 14 games.
The Otago Rugby Football Union has also offered its support to the victims of the Victorian bushfires. Players will wear black armbands tonight and there will be a minute's silence before the game.
The Red Cross will collect at the gates for its appeal fund.
