The ACT Brumbies head into a gruelling three-week road trip knowing they require significant improvement to keep their Super 14 finals hopes alive after a fumbling 28-21 victory over the Lions in Canberra.

Facing the Stormers and Bulls in South Africa before their final game against the Force in Perth, the Brumbies need to win all three games and hope other results go their way to make the semis.

"We certainly think we do (have a chance)," Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher said.

"All we can do is win three games."

But Fisher is under no illusions about the need for improvement following Friday night's win, which captain Stirling Mortlock described as his ugliest for some time and fullback Mark Gerrard labelled as "terrible".

"Over in South Africa you have to play at the right end of the field," Fisher said.

"You've got to defend well, and go hard at the breakdown.

"It's a narrower focus, it's not about playing millionaire rugby over there, it's about doing simple things well."

The simple things include ball handling in tight situations, especially close to the line, and Fisher acknowledged his team had not coped well with the Lions' pressure on the ball carrier.

"It was a scrappy win, it was just a bit of mental weakness," he said.

Flyhalf Christian Lealiifano said the team and individual performances from Friday night's match would be subject to tough scrutiny during the week.

"Stirling spoke about it on numerous occasions, just hold the ball, hold the ball," Lealiifano said.

"But the South Africans kept at it and kept us under pressure."

The victory lifts the Brumbies to 4th on the Super 14 ladder, but the ACT team could easily drop back to 7th after the full round is completed.

Lions coach Eugene Eloff lamented another game that slipped from his team's grasp, after narrow losses earlier in the season to the Force, Hurricanes, Sharks and a draw with the Reds.

"I'm disappointed we didn't get away with the win, the boys showed a lot of character," Eloff said.

"One or two catches of the ball, and a better bounce, we could have caused a big upset.

"The boys showed a lot of guts and determination."

In addition to the vital four competition points, bright spots for the Brumbies in the otherwise forgettable display was the performance of number 8 Julian Salvi, and the return to form of Mortlock after injury.

He displayed his trademark bruising defence and tackle-busting attacks with no outward signs of the injuries which have plagued his season.

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