All Blacks fullback Stephen Perofeta admits there's a unique tinge of sentimentality and anticipation leading into Saturday's test against Japan, where he'll tick off another major box in his rugby journey.
The 25-year-old Blues star has been named in the No. 15 jersey for Saturday' test against the Brave Blossoms at Tokyo's National Stadium, where he'll run out as part of the All Blacks' starting XV for the first time.
"My excitement levels are pretty high right now," said a beaming Perofeta from Tokyo on Thursday.
"Once I let my family know I was named in the squad it was a special feeling, and they were all really proud.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't have any nerves. There's certainly a few nerves in there but I think the prep during the week will unsettle those come gametime.
"I'm really excited and just really looking forward to having fun."
Perofeta's maiden test season has been an exercise in patience. After his breakthrough campaign with the Blues saw him rewarded with promotion to the national side, the Taranaki terror has taken the field just once in the black jersey, earning his first test cap in forgettable circumstances.
Perofeta was called upon from the bench for less than 60 seconds in the dying moments of the defeat to Argentina at Christchurch during the Rugby Championship - one of the lowest ebbs of the team's rollercoaster season to date.
Regardless of the circumstances, that freezing night in Canterbury will always occupy a special moment in Perofeta's heart.
But this weekend will offer Perofeta a long-awaited and bona fide opportunity to showcase the deep and well-rounded skillset that first thrust him back into the selector's spotlight during Super Rugby Pacific, when he was a key cog during the Blues' run to the final.
"[It means] everything [to get the start]," Perofeta admitted. "The journey has been really special.
"I've had my ups and downs before I was in this environment. But to be here now, I can certainly look back and be excited by the challenge ahead and proud of what I've done. But this is another challenge. A new challenge for me.
"Throughout this week I've just really tried to enjoy each moment and keep things really simple for myself, so come Saturday, I'm able to just execute my role and have fun."
Supremely versatile across the backline, Perofeta has been asked to get up to speed at both first-five and fullback, and coach Ian Foster said Beauden Barrett's bereavement absence meant the timing was ideal for him to step up to the plate.
"Circumstances meant he didn't quite get the opportunities we wanted to give him early on but he's an impressive young man," said Foster.
"He's been playing well, training well…I'm excited to see him play."
Foster added he may look to rotate Perofeta with Richie Mo'unga at some stage during the match against Japan to get a look at him at the pivot.
And while lack of gametime during the Rugby Championship means Perofeta is short on all-important on-field action leading into Saturday's test, he's confident his experience within the All Blacks environment so far have him in good stead to make an instant impact on Saturday.
"Experiencing all the leadup weeks to games and the requirements needed to execute and play the way we want to play and seeing how the other boys prepped, I really took a lot out of that," he noted.
"Throughout this week I've just really tried to enjoy each moment and keep things really simple for myself so, come Saturday, I'm able to just execute my role and have fun."
Join us at 6:50pm Saturday for live updates of the All Blacks v Japan test
