Fans aren't the only ones excited at the prospect of the Blues' stellar backline in 2022, with even the players themselves delighted at combining their talents for Super Rugby Pacific.
The reigning Super Rugby Trans-Tasman champions have only become stronger in the off-season, adding former NZ Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, while All Blacks Beauden Barrett and Caleb Clarke return from their respective 2021 commitments.
Those three players, along with current internationals Rieko Ioane and Finlay Christie, give the Blues - on paper - the most exciting backline in the competition.
The only challenge for Leon MacDonald's coaching staff will be finding the right combination that puts all the team's star players on the field at once.
But for winger Clarke, returning to Super Rugby after chasing a sevens spot at the Tokyo Olympics, the Blues pre-season is seeing the team think what might be once their season begins on February 18.
"It's tough enough for us players," Clarke says. "We're trying to talk through, 'you can play here, you can play here'.
"Then we're thinking what a tough job it is for the coaches to actually pick a seven to start on a Saturday.
"I think that's a great problem to have. At the same time, it's us players competing against each other.
"We all want that spot, we all want that jersey. It's only going to bring out the best in us - it's really exciting."
In particular, Tuivasa-Sheck's arrival has been a boost for Clarke, who was able to train with the former NRL Dally M Medal winner while Auckland was under COVID-19 lockdown in late 2020.
The league convert didn't hold back, helping Clarke back to top speed in his return from sevens - even leaving his protege in tears during one workout.
"I'm actually a lot skinnier now," adds Clarke. "It's quite good, I can run around a lot more.
"In lockdown, I got to train with Roger, once that picnic rule came out. He has some hard sessions - I was crying in one of them, that's how hard it was.
"I never cry in a session, he was just laughing."
The Blues open the Super Rugby Pacific season against newcomers Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium on February 18.
