Blackcaps fast bowler Neil Wagner isn't concerned with getting the upper hand over his birth nation South Africa, as New Zealand eyes a maiden test series victory over the Proteas.
Thanks to victory by an innings and 276 runs in the first test at Christchurch, the Blackcaps are one result away from a first series win over South Africa - the only country to have never been beaten by New Zealand in a completed series.
At the heart of that performance, as he's so often been during the team's rise in world cricket's standings, has been Wagner.
After struggling for opportunities in South Africa's quota system - where a certain number of places in a given side must be given to black and coloured players - Wagner left for New Zealand in 2008.
And after making his test debut in 2012, Wagner hasn't looked back on his path to becoming a Blackcaps regular, closing in on the mark of 250 wickets in white clothing.
Naturally, Wagner receives special attention when the Blackcaps face South Africa, with he and now Devon Conway facing the nation of their birth.
But while some players would want to prove a point against their former country, that's not the case for Wagner, who now sees himself more as a Kiwi than South Africa.
And even closing in on a historic series victory, Wagner isn't any more or less motivated than he would be for a win against any other test playing nation.
"People ask me that question, obviously because I was born there," Wagner says. "But I've been living here for 14 years now, so it's sort of something I don't think about too much.
"I probably only really know two or three guys in that team [South Africa] anyway. So it's a lot different to what it was when I started my career personally.
"But to beat any team, we've achieved a couple of things throughout the years now, [like] beating England for the first time in I don't know how many years.
"[It's] the same no matter who you play, we saw that a couple of months ago when we played against Bangladesh, how they played in our conditions. Test cricket against any test team is pretty tough, and every win is one you can treasure.
"This will be pretty special, but it's no different to any of the other ones."
Victory in the second test will also see the Blackcaps regain their place as the world's No.1 ranked test side.
Even as World Test Championship holders, the Blackcaps' place at the top of the rankings is questioned by many - largely in the subcontinent - owing to a lack of success outside of New Zealand.
But for Wagner, rankings and the accolades that come with them aren't important, with he and the Blackcaps only concentrating on what's next on the horizon.
"This group has achieved some amazing things throughout a few years now, but it's not a main focus.
"We don't try and think about those sort of things. We keep focussing on what we know how to do, what's in front of us.
"If we're bowling or batting, just how we do it to contribute in whatever way, and do it to the best of our ability.
"It's a nice thing about this team, everyone's got a bit of experience now. It sort of helps the more you play, when you play quality teams and be able to put performances in, it sort of definitely helps getting more experience, but also getting confidence out of that too.
"Hopefully we can keep growing as a unit with that, and take it forward."
Join Newshub for live updates of the Blackcaps v South Africa second test from 11am Friday.
