ACT Brumbies flanker Chris Alcock says if you want to see a lion's den in the capital this weekend, you'd better head to the zoo.
The Johannesburg Lions make their first trip to Canberra in six years and Alcock is determined to shut down South Africa's best team, while returning the Brumbies to winning ways on Friday night.
The Lions played in last year's Super Rugby final and have picked up where they left off with nine wins from 10 starts this season and are developing a habit of grinding out tight games.
It has been a different story for the Brumbies who have fallen one score short in five of their six losses but thanks to a weak Australian conference they still sit top.
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The Brumbies enjoyed the bye last round but returned to training on Sunday and Alcock said the focus during the week has been finding a way to turn those close losses into victories.
"We can look back and see the errors that have been made, it's easy to look back and see how we can fix them, but it's about learning how to adapt in the situation and being able to adapt to what happens in the game," Alcock said.
"We've played a lot of games this season where we've dropped off for 10 or 15 minutes and let in a few points so we just need to focus on being consistent for 80 minutes and hopefully we can grind out a few more wins.
"We feel like we're right there, generally we haven't ever felt like we've been out of a game, we just need to work on our final execution and the wins will come."
South-African born Alcock said he is looking forward to a typically physical encounter against a Lions side which is bucking the trend of traditional Springboks rugby.
"Watching the way they play you can see they're pretty expansive and are going to throw the ball around and play a bit of rugby which is always fun to play against and a good challenge," Alcock said.
"The South Africans generally play a very physical style of game and in the past they've been quite predictable and you know what they're going to do, but they seem to be adapting at the moment.
"They've all slowly got stronger this season and there were a few good wins on the weekend by the South African teams so they are developing into quite good sides."
Alcock scored one of the tries of the season against the Highlanders in round five from an elaborate line-out move and the openside hinted the Brumbies faithful could be treated again on Saturday.
"There's always going to be variety in what we do at the set piece and hopefully I get one or two more of those tries this season" Alcock said.
Australian teams are enduring their toughest campaign in Super Rugby history and Alcock said a win before their tour of South Africa and Argentina is crucial for the Brumbies' finals run.
"We really need this, we've had a few close games where we've missed out and to get the win for the home crowd is a great feeling and that's exactly what we need to do before heading on a two-week trip," Alcock said.
Brumbies hooker Saia Fainga'a made his return to the John I Dent Cup last Saturday and is hoping for a recall against the Lions.
"It should be a very entertaining game, it's going to be tough, they're playing well and their halves are playing outstanding so we just need to slow down their rucks be dominant at the set piece," Fainga'a said.