Queensland and NSW face clutch matches on the road while the ACT considers life without Stirling Mortlock for a month after a weekend of mixed fortunes for Australian Super 12 rugby sides.

The Brumbies, featuring a rookie backline, were clearly the most impressive of the Australian teams, picking off the Crusaders 32-21 in a rematch of last year's final at Canberra Stadium.

The ultimate result may have been the same as in 2004 but the modus operandi couldn't have been much more different as the ACT came from behind after losing Mortlock (knee) and Rathbone (concussion) in the first half.

While Rathbone should be right for the match against the Bulls in Canberra on Friday, Mortlock is expected to miss four games.

The Wallabies centre will have an MRI scan on Monday.

The Brumbies can hold their heads high however with the likes of Lenny Beckett, Sam Norton-Knight, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Gene Fairbanks performing superbly in the backs despite limited Super 12 experience.

"They've been training for 16 weeks - not on the promise of a start but on the promise we can't take any excuses and I think they performed admirably," said Fisher of his green three-quarter line.

Things aren't as peachy at the Reds following a 24-10 loss against the Hurricanes at Ballymore.

With three consecutive matches across the Tasman, the Reds would have been banking on a win to kickstart their season but the Tana Umaga-led Wellington side proved far too composed.

Ben Tune, resurrecting his career after knee surgery, is in the mix for a return against the Blues in Auckland after playing well in a curtain raiser for Queensland A.

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