NSW back rower David Lyons says it's time the Brumbies discarded their 'poor cousins' tag and said the underachieving Waratahs could shine some light on a dark season over the next two weeks.

Second from last, NSW headed to the national capital for their Super 14 clash with the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.

An intense rivalry has developed between the two teams over the years, with the Brumbies identifying their match with the Waratahs as one of their big games of the season.

"Every year it's a big rivalry and they (the Brumbies) always talk up about how they are the poor cousins and things like that," Lyons said.

"But they are the ones that have been setting a trend over the last few years, and especially (with them) at home, I think we are definitely the underdog."

Buoyed by successive wins in South Africa, the Brumbies entered this weekend's round in fifth position just three points off a top four spot.

The finals are realistically out of reach for NSW which has gone seven games without a win.

However, local pride and the lure of Test jerseys will act as duel spurs for the Waratahs, who play back-to-back derbies against the Brumbies and Queensland.

"If we do well in the next two games, it can shine a bit of light on a season that in the last few weeks hasn't been that happy for us, so it's definitely two very important weeks," Lyons said.

The 26-year-old Wallabies stalwart will this weekend become the third most capped Waratah, passing centre Nathan Grey.

He will play his 95th game for NSW and his 89th Super fixture, a tally which is bettered only by former captain and halfback Chris Whitaker, who notched 107 matches.

"It's a great honour to be alongside them in the record books," Lyons said.

He said he was looking forward to the challenge of trying to get on top of opposing No.8 and former team-mate Stephen Hoiles, who moved to the Brumbies late last year.

NSW coach Ewen McKenzie acknowledges Hoiles left NSW to get more game time, something he has duly achieved by playing every minute of the Brumbies Super campaign to date.

"There's no ill-feeling there, he made a decision about what he thought was best for him," McKenzie said.

"It seems to be working out from his perspective that he's made the right decision".

While McKenzie was hopeful Lyons would re-sign with the Waratahs, Lyons said he was "pretty open minded at the moment" about his future.

"I will just take in the offers and decide with my family what we want to do," Lyons said.

McKenzie said contract discussions with some of his other Wallabies including centre Morgan Turinui were "in the pipeline".

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