Rugby: Canes' foes an unknown quantity

The Hurricanes enjoyed a bye during the weekend as they nursed some injury niggles. Photo / Getty Images

Of their potential semifinal opponents, the Brumbies were the side the Hurricanes knew the least about.

Depending on how the results fell during the weekend, the Hurricanes could have hosted in Wellington either the Highlanders, Chiefs or Brumbies this week.

And after the Canberra side upset the Stormers 39-19 in Cape Town, they booked their trip to the capital to meet the Hurricanes this Saturday night.

Due to the quirky nature of the Super Rugby draw, every team misses out on playing two sides during the season and the Brumbies were one of the teams the Hurricanes didn't play this year; the Cheetahs were the other.

That means scouting of Stephen Larkham's Brumbies by the Hurricanes has been limited, whereas they played the Chiefs and Highlanders twice in derby matches.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd was asked last week about who he would like to host in the semifinals and he didn't have a preference.

"The Brumbies are a bit of a dark horse to me. They play a very un-Australian game in a lot of ways," he said.

"I've spent no time looking at the Brumbies' game at all, apart from when I've looked at teams they've played ... for our pre-match analysis. They drive a lot and they're a bit more of an African side in some ways.

"But I think they're a highly capable side. They've got a lot of good footballers in there," Boyd said.

The Hurricanes enjoyed a bye during the weekend as they nursed some injury niggles, although forward Blade Thomson remains a concern with his ankle complaint.

Ticket sales have been strong for the Hurricanes with more than 17,000 already snapped up for Saturday's semifinal at Westpac Stadium. That figure will grow this week.

"Everyone knows what a difference a full stadium can make to the home side, so we're certainly hoping we have a full house waving those black and yellow flags," Hurricanes chief executive James Te Puni said.