Brumbies coach Andy Friend says his side will have to boost their defensive effort if they are to get past the Blues in Auckland on Friday night.

The clash with the Blues will be the Brumbies' first against a New Zealand side this season and Friend expects once again having to adjust his team's game if they are notch up their fourth straight Super 14 victory.

Friend said the Blues will present a completely different challenge than the more conservative South African sides the Brumbies have faced over the past four weeks.

"The main difference is their attack," he said on Thursday.

"We've been used to the last four weeks playing against sides that out of their defending zone and set piece play tend to kick the ball back to you.

"This group won't be doing that at all. They'll be running the ball from pretty much 80-90 metres out and asking a lot more questions of our defensive line."

The Blues boast an imposing attacking line-up and have also been boosted by the return of All Black Isaia Toeava who has recovered from a hip injury.

Toeava will make his return not at centre, where he started the season, but at fullback, with Paul Williams dropping to the bench in the only change to the Blues starting 15.

Friend said it was important his side hold their defensive line and not open gates for the Blues attack.

"If our defensive line holds strong it will frustrate them and nullify the key part of their game which is line breaks and playing off the back of that."

And while the Brumbies have struggled to cross the line this season, having been unable to earn a fourth-try bonus point in their five outings so far, Friend rejects suggestions they are playing ugly footy.

The Brumbies are in fifth place on the ladder but are the only side in the top eight without at least two extra points for scoring four tries.

Friend maintains, as he has all season, that winning comes first. And he says he is reassured by the fact the side has a lot of improvement in them.

He admits they have been far from their best so far this season.

"At this point in time we're happy to be winning but we know we need to be better," he said.

"I don't think we've been playing ugly rugby. I think we've been not finishing the opportunities we've been creating."

Despite the run of victories, Friend said the side was not getting ahead of themselves.

"There's certainly no complacency. The group's in a good head space at the moment where we know that we're not playing the best football that we can.

"But we also know we're playing winning rugby at the moment but we've got room for improvement."

The Brumbies will be without veteran Wallaby centre Stirling Mortlock, who is being rested as a precaution after suffering a neck/shoulder injury in the 24-22 win over the Sharks last weekend.

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