Playmaker Stephen Larkham believes his ACT Brumbies will be forced to endure real pain for 80 minutes if they want to beat Queensland at Ballymore on Saturday night.

Larkham is wary of the Reds' trademark late finish to matches and he expects the home team will be primed for another great escape in the opening Super 12 round.

The Reds' most dramatic finish last year came in Durban, when fullback Chris Latham starred in a last-minute 30-29 win over the Sharks.

It's too early in the season to expect both teams to hit the finish line at full speed but Larkham is already bracing for a gutbusting start.

"Queensland can score points in the last 10 minutes and we noticed that from the matches they played last year," Larkham said.

"They're very dangerous when they're desperate and we're really going to have to play the full 80 minutes.

"The boys were certainly tired last week in the trial match but we were coming off a difficult week of training.

"I got through 70 minutes before I started feeling my knee and the extra 10 minutes this week will be a test."

The Brumbies were thrashed 55-5 by the Highlanders in Dunedin last week, sparking thoughts the 2001 Super 12 champions were behind the pace.

But bookmakers have installed the Brumbies and Reds equal favourites for a match expected to attract a capacity crowd.

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