Manawatu first-five Otere Black says he's happy at the Hurricanes despite facing an increasing battle for game time behind All Black incumbent Beauden Barrett.
The 21-year-old is off contract with the Wellington-based franchise at the end of the year with a move north to Auckland flagged as he pursues consistent game time.
But Black is just happy to be learning off the best player in the world in Barrett… for now.
"Obviously playing is the key but I'm learning off a pretty handy player as well," Black told Newshub.
"I'm pretty happy where I am at the moment and my role in this team so I guess I just keep working hard during the week and make sure I tick the boxes in my preparation."
The arrival of Beauden Barrett's younger brother Jordie at the Hurricanes as well as Wes Goosen's ability to play at first receiver means Black faces a log-jam for time in the prized black and yellow 10 shirt.
But the chance for Black to learn off his teammates while he's at the Hurricanes hasn't been lost on him.
"The way [Beauden Barrett] prepares, he comes in on Monday morning and he's willing to get better every day, so I think just learning little things like that. You see throughout the week that a lot of people don't see.
"They usually just see the 80 minutes he plays every week but luckily for some of us we get to see what they do every day."
Black's developed a reputation as a reliable all round number 10, something that's desperately missing from the Blues squad.
With Piers Francis heading home to the UK after taking up a contract with Northampton and Ihaia West's well-known struggles, Black would be a prized asset in Auckland.
And while he's happy in the capital at the moment, he didn't rule out a future move elsewhere.
"I'm focused on what I have to do here at the Hurricanes, my focus at the moment is on this weekend's game.
"My agent can sort those sort of things out, when it comes up, it happens but for now I'm focused on what I have to do with the Hurricanes."
Newshub.
