The last time Ben Alexander and younger brother Tom went head to head, a game of Monopoly finished with a broken nose.
But Tom says it's time for a bit of tough love for his ACT Brumbies sibling and this time he hopes he's the one putting on the big hits in a family battle at Viking Park.
![Brumbies player Ben Alexander and his brother Tom Alexander. Ben and Tom will play against each other in the Brumbies' ...](/web/20170131220710im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/0/e/8/k/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu0cgr.png/1485507960276.jpg)
Tom, a former Brumbies Academy player, will start for the Australian Barbarians against the Brumbies in a pre-season trial on Saturday.
The match will double as the first time the brothers have played against each other, with Ben starting at tighthead prop and ramping up preparations for his 10th Super Rugby campaign.
"We've never played against each other ... we got a message from mum earlier saying go easy on each other," Ben grinned.
"It will be a nice sidenote, but at the end of the day we've both got jobs to do.
"...[Tom] was hopeless, he wouldn't play [backyard] cricket or basketball with me. He was a bit of a nerd, I was bowling the ball against the wall to myself while he was inside when we were growing up."
But there's one grudge that is yet to be settled.
![Tom Alexander and Hugh Alexander with a cardboard cutout of big brother Ben.](/web/20170131220710im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/0/e/d/z/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gu0cgr.png/1485507960276.jpg)
"We had a Monopoly disagreement back in the day and [Ben] might have KO'd me ... a broken nose," Tom said.
Ben added: "He accused me of cheating when I was just beating him."
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham will test several new combinations in the trial match, including throwing former Australian sevens player Tom Cusack into the starting team.
Nic Mayhew, Chris Alcock, Lolo Fakaosiliea, Wharenui Hawera, Kyle Godwin and Andrew Muirhead will all make their starting debut for the Brumbies in the clash.
Larkham will use games against the Barbarians and then the NSW Waratahs next weekend to help piece together his puzzle for the 2017 Super Rugby season.
The game against the Barbarians will be split into four quarters, with Saia Fainagaa and Henry Speight coming off the bench in the second half.
Ben Alexander is keen for his first match to blow out the cobwebs, but he believes his brother can use the game as a stepping stone to his own Super Rugby career.
"Tom has gotten better as he got older," Ben said.
"He still enjoys his rugby ... You look at guys like Josh Mann-Rea [who made their Super Rugby debut at older ages], he's got a long career ahead of him.
"If you stick to it and enjoy it, things can change very quickly. I'd like to see the same thing happen for my brother and I believe it can."
Second-rower Tom has played for the Rams in the National Rugby Championship and has also had a stint in Europe.
"It took me a while to come back from tearing my [anterior cruciate ligament], but any chance to play against a Super Rugby franchise is a great opportunity," Tom said.
"I just relish every game as it comes these days. So to put on the Barbarians jersey and play against the Brumbies, it's going to be great."
SUPER RUGBY PRE-SEASON
January 28: ACT Brumbies v Australian Barbarians at Viking Park, 5.30pm. Tickets available at the gate.
Brumbies team: Nic Mayhew, 2. Josh Mann-Rea, 3. Ben Alexander, 4. Tom Staniforth, 5. Sam Carter, 6. Tom Cusack, 7. Chris Alcock, 8. Lolo Fakaosilea, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 11. Lausii Taliauli, 12. Kyle Godwin, 13. Andrew Smith, 14. Andrew Muirhead, 15. Aidan Toua. Replacements: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Faalelei Sione, 18. Leslie Leulua'iali'i-Makin, 19. Blake Enever, 20. Jordan Smiler, 21. Tomás Cubelli, 22. Jordan Jackson-Hope, 23. Mac Hansen, 24. Saia Fainga'a, 25. Jarrad Butler, 26. Ben Hyne, 27. Ryan Lonergan, 28. Isaac Thompson, 29. Jamie Kotz, 30. Henry Speight.
February 4: ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs at Mudgee, 6pm.
February 11-12: Brisbane Global 10s at Suncorp Stadium.