Rugby: Fairbanks injury dents Brumbies' hopes

The Brumbies are likely to be without Gene Fairbanks for their must-win clash Super 14 with the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday after the centre strained his hamstring in the bonus-point win over the Blues.

A number of other players are also carrying injuries but the Brumbies will be boosted by the return of Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore as they continue their tightrope walk in search of a semifinals berth.

Moore, who was unable to train for much of the week due to a slight tear in his right hamstring, was ruled out just before kick-off on Saturday night but should be fit to tackle the Chiefs.

The Brumbies scored five second-half tries to blow away the Blues 37-15 in Canberra, securing a much-needed bonus point in the process to climb to fifth - equal on points with the fourth-placed Crusaders but behind on differential entering the final round.

To guarantee themselves a playoff spot, The Brumbies will need to score another four-try bonus-point win and deny the second-placed Chiefs any competition points. That means winning by at least eight points and not conceding any more than three tries, otherwise the Brumbies will be relying on other results to go their way.

Coach Andy Friend conceded his players struggled to get going in the first 40 minutes against the Blues but was confident they would build on their second-half performance.

"I thought in the second half there was definitely a lift in the attitude," he said. "There was a lift in the physicality and we saw what the team can do when they keep the ball in hand.

"It's completely in our control now ... if we beat the Chiefs next week with four tries and a bonus point and don't give them any points, then we finish ahead of them on the ladder.

"So that's in our control and we'll be making sure that we give everything we can to make that happen."

The Brumbies will make an early trip to New Zealand tomorrow but injuries are likely to hamper their build-up.

"We've got a fair few and that is a concern for us, but we'll wait and see what happens in the next 24 hours," Friend said.

Moore, however, is set to make his return.

"It was only a minor hamstring tear anyway and he'll look after that in the next few days but should be fine to go on Friday," said Friend.

- AAP