Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher says the way Super 14 rugby is being played this season has given little opportunity for gun wingers Clyde Rathbone and Mark Gerrard to press for Wallabies jerseys.

The two Brumbies flyers are widely considered to be in a three-cornered contest with the Western Force's rejuvenated Scott Staniforth for one Australian wing position, behind NSW Waratahs certainty Lote Tuqiri.

Asked about Rathbone's quieter than usual season so far for the Canberra-based side, Fisher said the running game had been less evident in 2006.

"I don't think he's had as many opportunities off set-piece play but I don't know any winger in the competition that has," said Fisher.

"I don't know how many attacking opportunities Lote's getting as well, that's the way the game's being played this year, not too many flowing backline moves."

Fisher said Rathbone and Gerrard were focused on their football at the Brumbies rather than engaged in a competition for the Wallaby jersey.

"They're both playing good football, different style of player but they're certainly both in good form at the moment so they can do no more than play good football in a good team," he said.

"That may well come down to the style of play that John Connolly wants them to play, and at this point of time I have no idea how he'll want to play the game."

Rathbone, who's played 15 Tests and Gerrard (seven) start on the wings for the fourth placed Brumbies, expected to easily account for the 10th placed Highlanders in Canberra on Saturday and bolster their finals chances.

Connolly's attention will also be on the Brumbies front row of veteran Bill Young, hooker Jeremy Paul and young prop Guy Shepherdson as they front up to the tough Highlanders scrum.

The Australian coach was reportedly unimpressed at the first placed Waratahs' scrum against the Dunedin based side last weekend as he searches for a solution to the humiliation suffered against England last November.

"We're just hoping to win our own scrum ball," Fisher said.

"Knowing they're probably up against the best front row in the Super 14 is what would fire them up.

"I don't think the selection issue makes a difference, that's the thing when your neck's on the line against a very, very good scrum."

Shepherdson, 24, whose name has been mentioned as a possible Wallaby, said he's expecting a tough night at the office against Carl Hayman, Anton Oliver and Clarke Dermody.

"Obviously they've got a strong scrummaging focus and one of the best tight-heads (Hayman) in the game," Shepherdson said.

"It's probably going to be one of the hardest nights of the year."

Shepherdson said, like every Super 14 player, he was aiming to take the next step.

"I guess with the amount of attention Australian scrummaging's been getting over the last twelve months everyone's working pretty hard because they're going forward in that area," he said.

The Brumbies will be boosted by the re-signing of forward and Wallaby tourist Adam Wallace-Harrison for a further two seasons.

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