Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa says a string of former ACT Brumbies will be playing with a point to prove when they return to GIO Stadium on Sunday with the Western Force.

The visitors have named Reesjan Pasitoa at flyhalf and Bayley Kuenzle at inside centre, the two key recruits looking to spearhead an upset victory for the Force to kick off the Super Rugby Pacific season.

Other Brumbies departees Harry Lloyd and Isaak Fines-Leleiwasa are also named on the bench, and the Brumbies skipper said his team should be wary of their fired-up opponents.

“(They’re) boys that probably left our team because they wanted opportunity and they wanted game time, so as a team they definitely have a point to prove,” he told reporters on Saturday.

“Those lads are probably gonna add a lot to their team, they’re people who have contributed a lot to our club as well in the past and we still respect them as our brothers.

“The best way to respect them on the field is to get stuck into them.”

The Brumbies are red-hot favourites for the contest, kicking off a campaign that could see the continued rise of their emerging Wallabies stars.

With young talents Darcy Swain (24), Rob Valetini (23), Noah Lolesio (22), Len Ikitau (23) and Tom Wright (24) all impressing for the nation since the last Super Rugby season, Alaalatoa said Sunday’s game was about showing the side was growing into something special.

“Everyone’s ripped in … very specific around growth areas from last year … the Wallabies boys came back fresh,” he said.

“I’ve always been part of a hard slogging pre-season here at the Brumbies, it was still very hard but the best thing about it was it was very specific.

“As players it’s up to us to make sure that we showcase what we’ve learnt.”

The Brumbies have won their last 10 matches against the Force dating back to 2013, including 27-11, 42-14 and 21-9 triumphs last season.

By Alex Mitchell in Canberra

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