It was the 2011, the dual international - then just an Australian representative in rugby league - had signed with Greater Western Sydney and was learning his craft in the North East Australian Football League before the Giants' AFL debut the following year.

Matt Giteau was still at the Brumbies and it was Kurtley Beale - pre-Melbourne rebellion - who kicked two conversions and five penalty goals to secure a two-tries-to-one win for NSW at Canberra Stadium.

They haven't managed it since, despite Super Rugby glory and victory in nine of the past 10 meetings between the sides.

Folau, who has ticked off virtually every other box in rugby save for a win against New Zealand, is still chasing a win at Canberra Stadium and was at a loss to explain why it had proved so elusive for the Waratahs.

"I'm not sure, the Brumbies are a good side and it's been a great challenge for us to go down there and play them and try to get the win," he said.

"It's not going to be easy, we've had a short turn-around, but we're going to try to have a good week and make sure our preparation's right."

Both sides are coming off wins, although the Waratahs will name the stronger team. The Brumbies are missing regular five-eighth Matt Toomua, prop Scott Sio and No.8 Fotu Auelua. But with David Pocock, Stephen Moore, Scott Fardy, Nic White, Tevita Kuridrani and Henry Speight - to name a handful - in strong form, and second row Sam Carter expected to return, there is nothing second-string about their line-up.

The Waratahs are expecting a much stronger side than the one they beat 28-13 in round six in Sydney.

"The game's going to be won around the contact zone, and every time we've played the Brumbies it's been very competitive there," he said.

"I can imagine if anything, who wins that battle will determine the outcome."

The Brumbies' back line has lurched from combination to combination in the face of injury, while the Waratahs have enjoyed the luxury of unprecedented stability, but the Waratahs talked down the chances of exploiting their rivals' high turnover rate and new combinations. 

"There could be [opportunities], but in saying that they've got some great players along their whole back line," Folau said.

"We've still got to do our job and make sure we earn the right to get those opportunities to play."

The Wallabies full-back also said his side's - and his own - record at Canberra Stadium did not worry him. 

"I've had some good experiences and bad ones at different grounds, but I don't look at it from that point of view," he said.

"I enjoy the experience, or the challenge, no matter where I play. I'll just try and embrace that opportunity and try and make the most of it."

There is plenty at stake, not least of all competition points that could provide the Waratahs with valuable momentum heading into the final six games of the regular season. With one game up their sleeve - the Brumbies have not yet had their second bye - a win would put the defending champions in the driver's seat for the rest of their season.

But all talk of wider implications had been shelved at Waratahs headquarters this week, with Gibson and Folau doing their best to pour cold water on the topic.

"We haven't spoken about it in that [context]; it's another game for us, the same as every other week, we have to put out a good performance regardless of who we play," Folau said. 

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