Brumbies coach Jake White has urged halfback Nic White not to overplay his hand when he lines up opposite Super Rugby’s premier No.9 Will Genia in Brisbane on Saturday night.

White, whose recent form has made him the clear Wallabies back up No.9 for the upcoming Lions tour, was benched for three Test matches last June but failed to earn a cap after Genia played every minute.

With Wallabies coach Robbie Deans sure to be taking notes on the blockbuster clash between the Brumbies and Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium, coach White said he hoped his No.9 stuck to the team plan instead of trying to prove a point.

“Genia is well known as probably the best halfback in the world,” the World Cup winning coach told AAP.

“The problem with what happens in these big derby games which can always lead to failure is if players on an individual basis think they’ve got to make a statement on their own.

“I hope (Nic White) doesn’t need to worry about how he proves himself against anybody. He’s just got to make sure he plays how we want him to play.”

White and Genia were side-by-side at a Wallabies camp earlier this week where they got a unique opportunity to size each other up before the highly anticipated top-of-the-table Super Rugby clash.

Despite vying for Wallabies game time for the British and Irish Lions tour in June and July, Genia said the duo were mates away from the football field.

“I get along well with Whitey, he’s a good guy,” he said.

“On Saturday we will give everything but when we are off the field there’s no point holding grudges or being tense around each other.

“I never really look at individual match-ups, there’s no point in getting hung up on `I want to play better than him’.”

However, when asked if it was awkward with the Brumbies players at the Wallabies camp as was stated by his teammate Ben Tapuai, Genia replied: “It can be a little bit awkward but only as awkward as you make it.”

AA