NSW Waratahs playmaker Kurtley Beale says a win over the Brumbies on Friday will set up his team’s Super Rugby season and rates the rivalry with the Canberra-based side higher than the one against traditional arch-rivals Queensland.

Both sides had a convincing opening round home win, the Brumbies over the Hurricanes and the Waratahs against the Reds.

“If we can go into the bye with two wins up then we’ve achieved our first goal,” Beale said on Monday.