Brumbies coach Jake White is desperate to avoid what would be a first for him – a third consecutive loss in Super Rugby.

It will be anything but easy for White’s Brumbies, who will line up against an equally desperate sixth placed Blues side on Saturday night at the intimidating Eden Park.

“We’re obviously desperate for a win. They want to make sure they keep their campaign going,” said White, who hasn’t had to deal with more than two defeats in a row since joining the Brumbies as head coach in 2012.

“I never want that stat and I know this group of players don’t want that stat either.

“When we lose one (game) we make sure that the next team gets the aftermath of that result.”

After a strong start to the season the Brumbies have gone off the boil with losses to the Crusaders and then the momentum-building Waratahs 28-22 in Sydney last week.

While the former World Cup-winning Springboks coach never met New Zealand at Eden Park, he won just three out of nine matches against former All Blacks and fellow World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry, now assistant coach at the Blues.

Interestingly, not one of those three wins was in New Zealand.

“John Kirwan and Graham Henry are a good coaching staff, and they’ve got some great players there,” White said.

“Rene Ranger is a fantastic rugby player. People talk about x-factor in rugby – he’s definitely got it.”

Damaging Blues loose forward Steven Luatua has been ruled out with injury, however fellow All Blacks training squad member Francis Saili will return at inside centre for Jackson Willison.

The Brumbies have made just the one starting change, with Colby Faingaa promoted to the run-on side for the injured George Smith.

“One thing I’m really looking forward to this weekend is seeing how Colby takes his chances and brings a new energy to our team,” White said.

The Blues were strangled by the Crusaders last week and will consider this a must win home game as they finish the season with a two week tour of South Africa and a match against the table-topping Chiefs.

With the Blues ending the Brumbies play off hopes in the final round last year, White added the match presented the chance for his side to make amends.

“We get an opportunity to play the Blues when they have a crack at making the play-offs and we can, again, beat them and control our own destiny,” he said.