Any excitement that Blues fans feel for the impending return of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is dwarfed by the star midfielder himself, assistant coach Dan Halangahu says.
In his first season with the Blues after switching from rugby league and NZ Warriors, Tuivasa-Sheck has spent the past four games on the sidelines after suffering a shoulder injury in last month's 24-22 victory over the Chiefs.
But even out injured, Tuivasa-Sheck has still been a presence in the Blues' camp during their Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
The 28-year-old's enthusiasm has provided a lift for his teammates as they prepare to face the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday.
And while Tuivasa-Sheck's still not quite ready to make his playing return, Halangahu and the Blues' coaching staff acknowledge he'll be back on the field sooner rather than later.
"We're really hopeful for next week, he has come through better than expected," Halangahu said. "We're getting excited, everyone's getting excited to see him back out there. He's running around like he's an 18-year-old and it's his first training session.
"It's infectious, the passion that Roger brings, and how much he loves the game.
"We all might get a bit tired from three games in a week, and there are guys like Roger and Beauden [Barrett] itching to get back out there."
Barrett's return is another boost for the Blues, after missing back-to-back matches against Moana Pasifika following a head knock against the Highlanders.
And for the Blues, Barrett's on-field leadership in support of captain Dalton Papalii sees him stand tall as one of the team's most important players.
"It's huge," Halangahu said of Barrett's comeback. "We know that Stevie's [Stephen Perofeta] been doing a great job for us, whether he's at 10 or 15.
"To have Beauden's class back; his experience is a huge bonus for us. He's always driving us all to get better.
"What we've spoken about with this team is the leadership we bring. Dalton's doing a great job in that role up front, but to have Beaudy [Barrett] there as his assistant, they're a really good team."
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