Bryn Gatland's outstanding start to the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season hasn't gone unnoticed, especially by his Chiefs coach, who has retained him in the No.10 jersey for their crunch rematch against the Crusaders.
With All Black Damian McKenzie currently on sabbatical in Japan and missing the entire Super Rugby campaign, the Chiefs seemed likely to miss the influence of a test-quality playmaker at first-five.
But after starting two games on the bench, Gatland, 26, has made that role his own, holding off competition from new signing Josh Ioane and utility Kaleb Trask.
In particular, Gatland's last two outings have seen him shine in the spotlight, steering the Chiefs to a 24-21 victory against the Crusaders at Christchurch and backing that up with another memorable display in a 59-12 win over Moana Pasifika last week.
That form has seen him named at first-five again, as the Crusaders head to Hamilton in search of revenge.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan insists Gatland is finally reaping the rewards of an extended run in the side.
"He's certainly playing well," McMillan says. "He had probably his best day at the office in a Chiefs jersey last time we played the Crusaders a couple of weeks ago.
"You could see in his performance against Moana Pasifika that he took a lot of confidence out of that fixture and he's been rewarded with another start, because he's earned it.
"We've always maintained that he's a hell of a good player, he's just had to battle other good players to get a start.
"I will say, too, the big boys up front for us have been doing a magnificent job, so I imagine, if you're a nine or a 10, it's quite handy being on the front foot."
The Chiefs' start to the season has seen them win three of their first four games, with their only defeat against the Blues at Eden Park coming down to the final kick of the match.
With three wins and one loss apiece, the Crusaders and Chiefs sit fourth and fifth respectively on the extended table, behind the Australian Brumbies, Reds and Waratahs - all with an extra game played.
But with the quality on offer in the New Zealand side of the draw, the Chiefs and Crusaders are potentially the competition's two best sides so far.
Despite the Crusaders' ongoing battle with COVID-19, McMillan expects the reigning Super Rugby Aotearoa champions to return serve, after their last-minute defeat two weeks ago..
"We expect a response," he says. "They've been champions for the last 5-6 years now, because they don't often lose and when they do lose, there's a significant response.
"One thing we're really confident of - and will be playing on their mind - is that we are an improved side and we're a continually improving side.
"We've got depth, so when we're affected by COVID and injuries, we're getting better dealing with that.
"Having to come up here off the back of a disrupted week, travel, coming to play a team on a bit of a high will present some challenges for them.
"It goes both ways, but we're under no illusion that they're going to come up here, and try and upset the party."
Join us from 7pm Saturday for live updates of the Chiefs v Crusaders Super Rugby Pacific clash
