Brumbies lock Darcy Swain admits the pain from last year's heartbreaking Final defeat still hurts ahead of Friday's blockbuster at GIO Stadium.
The top-of-the-table clash only amplifies the tension and pressure in what's become one of the biggest, if not the biggest, rivalry within Australian Rugby.
Swain was one of two players sin-binned as the hosts hunted for the game-winning try, eventually finding their way over in the 84th minute through James O'Connor.
Watching the Reds and the 40,000+ fans celebrate wildly still stings for the 24-year-old, eager to 'shut them up.'
"They carried on a bit, I thought," Swain said to reporters on Monday. "I just want to go out there and shut them up this weekend."
“I think a lot of guys know they are an emerging powerhouse. They have a lot of young guys coming through like (Fraser) McReight, Tate (McDermott) and they’re bringing more younger guys through with them.
“They’re going to be there, they’re always going to be there. We just have to be better. That’ll always be there.
“...It's been sitting in the back of everyone's minds, that sort of bitterness of last year and the way it ended.
"But as much as it hurts, we've got to go out there this weekend and stick to our guns. We have to play our game and be physical, have a good set-piece and play on top of them and I know we’ll do good things.”
Swain will be a welcome return for the Brumbies, having missed the win over the Rebels due to a concussion.
It comes after the Wallaby signed a two-year extension, conceding there was little chance of leaving the nation's capital.
“I was always going to stay,” he admitted.
“It’s there to go overseas but I love where I am at the moment and I owe a lot to the Brumbies, Dan (McKellar), Lord (Laurie Fisher) for putting time into me and I love this club and Canberra.
“It was an easy decision for me to lock in for a couple more years and see where we can go with this group.
“I probably could’ve gone to a couple of places in Australia but I don’t want to go anywhere else. It’s a good place to be. I love coming to work every day and I love the coaches and the attitude they give me, it’s reciprocal and I want to get better.”
READ MORE:
TOTW: Banks, Uru shine
FIVE THINGS: Fijiana make statement
CONCERNS?: Crusaders loss raises questions
