MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Of the many surprises Super Rugby Pacific has thrown up this season, the Australian teams' spotless record at home to New Zealand rivals ranks among the most astonishing.
Having once dominated Australian sides home or away, none of New Zealand's six teams have breached "Fortress Australia" on their trips "across the ditch" after 10 rounds this season.
The players freed up by the collapse of the Melbourne Rebels have strengthened Australia's four remaining teams and made the once-lopsided competition far more intriguing.
Following Western Force's 17-17 draw with the Wellington Hurricanes in Perth last week, it will be the Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies' turn to repel the New Zealand invaders.
The Reds' face arguably the harder task when they host the Auckland Blues at Lang Park on Friday.
Although the Blues lie eighth in the table with a 3-6 losing record, they are desperate to keep their title defence alive after a tough 25-22 loss at the Canterbury Crusaders last week.
They have won on each of their last three trips to Queensland and racked up 40-plus point scores against the Reds in their last three matches.
But coming in fresh off a bye, Les Kiss's fourth-placed Reds will fancy themselves to snap the losing streak on "Anzac Day", a bank holiday commemorating Australians and New Zealanders who served in wars and conflicts.
"The spirit of the Anzacs is something we should make sure we continue to honour," Kiss told reporters.
"Those types of occasions become special and it deepens the meaning .... they become the big games."
TOP GEAR
The third-placed Brumbies face the seventh-placed Hurricanes on Saturday, returning to their Canberra Stadium home following an impressive 24-0 victory away to Moana Pasifika in Pukekohe.
Stephen Larkham's Brumbies had a relatively slow start to the season but are now in top gear.
They have won their last three matches to retake the mantle of Australia's best-performing team.
The Brumbies have also won five of their last six matches against the Hurricanes and, with the return of Wallabies centre Len Ikitau from concussion, they will be hard to beat.
"Last weekend gives us massive confidence, especially in and around the defence part of our game," Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa said.
"It’s going to be a physical game up front. You've got to earn the right against these blokes and I don't think it'll be any different this weekend."
The Brumbies lie four points behind the leading Waikato Chiefs who host the fifth-placed Force in the first Super Rugby match at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui on Friday.
Bay Oval is known more for hosting international cricket but the Chiefs will be confident of producing their best rugby at the ground against a team they have not lost to since 2014.
Victory may not be enough to stay top of the table, though, with the second-placed Crusaders level on points with the Chiefs.
The Crusaders can swipe top spot with a big win over the ninth-placed Otago Highlanders in Saturday's South Island derby in Dunedin.
Earlier on Saturday, Fijian Drua will look for back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they travel to Auckland for a bottom-two clash against Moana Pasifika.
Drua entered the season with great expectations after making the playoffs last year but defeat by Moana will all but end their hopes this term.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Ken Ferris)
