BRUMBIES prop Guy Shepherdson yesterday said his team was still struggling to come to grips with Super 14s' new rules on the eve of the tournament's toughest assignment, a clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch today and Queensland hosting the Highlanders.

The Brumbies copped a lesson in last Friday's trial against the Hurricanes and Wallaby front-rower Shepherdson said the lopsided scoreline was partly due to the number of free kicks given away by the Australian side.

The Brumbies have been in New Zealand since last week's trial, training in Nelson as they prepare for the with Robbie Deans' tournament favourites. Minus departed superstars George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and Jeremy Paul, the ACT team will head into the match as the outsider.

"We certainly understand that we're underdogs … but we have prepared well and we're quietly confident but not overly confident and I think that's quite a good thing," Shepherdson said.

Coach Laurie Fisher yesterday named four new faces for the match, with fly-half Christian Lealiifano, who was brought up in Victoria, and reserve back Tyrone Smith to make their Super 14 debuts and former Waratahs scrum-half Josh Holmes and Stormers hooker Huia Edmonds to make their first appearances for the Brumbies.

Deans named three newcomers in his starting line-up — Kahn Fotuali'i at half-back, former Blues lock Ali Williams and young winger Kade Poki — while former Brisbane Bronco Brad Thorn will mark his return to Super rugby for the first time since 2004.

Meanwhile, Queensland coach Phil Mooney has named fly-half Berrick Barnes as the key figure in trying to reverse the fortunes of the 2007 wooden spooner, which will play the Highlanders at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

But Mooney said the Reds' brains trust would help would ease the burden on Barnes as they look to their playmaker to help turn them into a competitive Super 14 outfit and erase the memories of their last clash — a humiliating 92-3 thrashing to the Bulls in Pretoria.

Mooney said the experienced Wallabies trio of full-back Chris Latham, centre Morgan Turinui and half-back Sam Cordingley will take some pressure off Barnes.

Captain John Roe said the Reds, who will field a full-strength side for the first time in five years, would "rip in" against a Highlanders outfit devoid of any All Blacks.

Other games: Tomorrow — Sharks v Western Force (Durban, 4.10am), Blues v Chiefs (Auckland, 5.35pm), NSW Waratahs v Hurricanes at (Sydney, 7.40pm); Sunday — Stormers v Bulls (Cape Town, 2am), Cheetahs v Lions (Bloemfontein, 4.05am).