The Chiefs aren't sugar coating their early performances in Super Rugby Aotearoa, and it's easy to see why.
Having dropped their opening two matches, they look far from the side that started the season so strongly.
But it's a position they've been in before, and one Anton Lienert-Brown is confident they'll navigate their way out of again.
"Of course it hurts," says midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown. "We know we're a better side.
"But I just take us back to last year. We were five and zero for the first five games and we're probably in a similar position right now because it's such a short season. But we managed to climb our way out of that hole."
And better news could yet be on the way, with captain Sam Cane closing in on a return from a back strain that kept him out of the first two rounds.
"It's one of those ones we'll see how he scrubs up after he's done a full session today," says Chiefs assistant coach Neil Barnes. "If he's 100 percent, he's likely to be in. If he's not, we won't risk it."
The Chiefs could certainly do with his services if they're to find their way out of their current slump, one they'll have to get out of against the Crusaders, who are keen to inflict more pain on the winless side.
"The last two games we've played against them we've lost," says Crusaders forward Michael Alaalatoa. "So we're looking forward to the challenge that's coming.
"I know they're going to come down and push us really hard and we're expecting that."
And the Chiefs won't be deterred by the challenge.
"There's no better way to turn it around against a side like that and we've got full belief we can do it," adds Lienert-Brown.
It's a long road back in Super Rugby Aotearoa if they can't.
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