With playoffs looming, the Blues aren't shirking from the fact they may have to overcome Kiwi opposition, if they're to take out Super Rugby Pacific.
After last week's victory over ACT Brumbies at Canberra, the Aucklanders will finish the round robin stage as the competition leaders, securing home advantage for as long as they're alive in the postseason.
Finishing first sets them up to play the eighth-placed finishers in the competition, currently the Highlanders, in what could be the first of several Kiwi playoff derbies.
Should the Blues advance to the semi-finals, they would face the lowest-qualified quarter-final winner. If results were to go with the higher seeded teams, they would host the Chiefs for a spot in the final.
With the Crusaders sitting second on the ladder, the reigning Super Rugby Aotearoa champions loom as the Blues' final opponents, giving Leon MacDonald's side a playoff run exclusively against New Zealand opposition.
But MacDonald insists they have beaten every Kiwi side - except the Hurricanes - in 2022 and don't fear the prospect of up to three more games against their compatriots.
"We've had a lot of experience playing New Zealand teams week after week over the last few years with COVID, [Super Rugby] Aotearoa, etc, so we're used to it.
"It's the same for them. This time of year, a lot of it's mental, winning that mental battle with yourself really, telling yourself you're not that sore and you're ready to go again.
"It's been a long, tough season for a lot of players and teams. This is when you've really got to show a lot of mental resolve and steel as well."
For now, McDonald insists his team are solely concentrating on their final game of the round robin, travelling to Sydney to face NSW Waratahs, who can still secure a home quarter-final, if results go their way.
In reality, with home advantage secure, the Blues have shuffled their deck to face the Waratahs, with second-string halfback Sam Nock the most experienced member of his starting side, with 48 Super Rugby caps.
MacDonald insists that Saturday's fixture will hopefully see his side enter the playoffs with both momentum from one final victory and a set of fresh frontline players, rested from the regular season finale.
"Quarter-finals, I suppose, are the toughest to play," he added. "Quarters and semis, they're horrible games.
"You know everything you've done throughout the year counts for nothing once you run out onto the grass. It's really important we don't get ahead of ourselves - this week's just about this week.
"That's the main thing for us, we want to put in a good performance, so we have good momentum and confidence going into the playoffs, and set ourselves up really nicely for the playoffs."
Should the Blues win at Sydney, they would set a new franchise record of 13 consecutive victories, beating the 1997 championship-winning side.
Join us at 9:30pm Saturday for live updates of the Blues v Waratahs Super Rugby Pacific clash
