Brumbies coach set to farewell Canberra
Unlike Stephen Larkham and George Gregan last year, Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher is not expecting to have a grandstand named in his honour when he bids farewell to Canberra Stadium on Friday night.
Emotion is sure to be high when the Brumbies tackle the Lions in the last-ever Super 14 home game under Fisher's tuition.
But with his side walking the finals tightrope, Fisher insists there'll be no room for sentiment when he delivers his final dressing-room pep talk in the national capital before handing the reins to Andy Friend in 2009.
"There have been plenty of people who have left here without having a stand named after them so I wouldn't imagine I will," he said.
"But I won't take it personally. Now is not about me. I'm just trying to get through this season and contribute to the team moving forward."
Despite having been unable to guide the Brumbies to the playoffs, Fisher remains a popular figure among his players, most hoping he accepts an offer to stay on in Canberra as forwards coach, a position he held under David Nucifora prior to being promoted to head coach in 2005.
"You'd hope to be seen as having had some value over four years, but it won't affect my decision making," he said.
""I've got a good relationship with most of the boys and I think they would feel as though I have contributed to them being better footballers.
"But I'll worry about employment decisions down the track."
Fisher's more immediate focus is on ensuring the Brumbies back up their fine win over the previously unbeaten Sharks with another victory over South African opposition to keep their finals hopes alive.
Fisher's men are running eighth but, so congested is the ladder, that victory over the last-placed Lions could conceivably elevate the Brumbies into the top four.
With three away games against the Stormers, Bulls and Western Force to complete their campaign, beating the Lions is non-negotiable.
"We need to make sure we have another good performance so we hit the road with have a bit of confidence. That's crucial for us," Fisher said.
"It was a pretty special comeback against the Sharks. We were certainly under the hammer early and struggling set piece-wise and it was certainly very important for growing self-belief.
"But out of that game, we learned we've got to deliver a set-piece platform to allow us to play some attack to hurt opposition times.
"We've still got a lot of work to do. The Lions are a pretty committed side. They run hard and straight, they like to offload, they're big, physical and they do play for 80.
"So anything you get in the game from them, you've got to work for."
In a major boost for the Brumbies, centre and captain Stirling Mortlock is expected to return after missing the Sharks game with concussion.
"He's not an absolute certainty, but all the indicators are that he'll play, unless he has a setback between now and then," Fisher said.
"He should be right to play."
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