BRUMBIES enforcer Fotu Auelua will be forced to watch his teammates take on the Highlanders from the sideline at Equex Centre on Saturday.

While visiting Wagga ahead of the much-anticipated Super Rugby trial, the powerful flanker revealed impending surgery has rubbed him out of the clash.

Auelua is scheduled to have minor surgery to his knee this week, which will put the muscled star out of action for up to six weeks.

While admitting he is frustrated to be missing the club's final pre-season trial game, Auelua is facing the blow with his trademark optimism and positivity.

"I have to have a clean out of my knee ... so I won't be playing on Saturday," he said.

"It's only going to take me out for five, six weeks maximum so I can't really complain when you have blokes going in for reconstructions that put them out for months."

The cartilage damage has not prevented Auelua from participating in what he describes as a "testing, but rewarding" pre-season alongside his Brumbies teammates.

"The boys have worked hard and a lot of them have been pushed to the limit," he said.

"It's been a shorter pre-season so they have had to go hard from day one.

"There were a lot of old school elements, so it's been pushing everyone, but we are seeing the rewards now."

The challenging and demanding Super Rugby premiership build-up could hold the key to the Brumbies' 2015 season success and victory over the Highlanders in Wagga on Saturday.

"The boys are really up and ready to go," Auelua said.

"This trial (against the Highlanders) is important to us because a win would be a good boost in confidence."

Auelua is expecting Saturday's rugby show piece will provide plenty of excitement and entertainment for Wagga's sporting enthusiasts, who haven't welcomed the ACT Brumbies to the city since 2006.

"The Highlanders are a well-improved team," he said.

"They were a top six team last year for a reason.

"They have a very strong forward pack that gets in and lays the platform for the backs who also have a lot of firepower between them."

Missing the blockbuster battle with the Highlanders is only working to strengthen the monster forward's determination as he looks ahead to the upcoming Super Rugby season.

As well as sharing his teammate's Super Rugby finals ambitions, New Zealand-born Auelua is also looking to add to his representative credentials.

"There's always that drive to make higher honours," he said.

The Brumbies will meet the Highlanders at 7pm at Equex Centre on Saturday.