Even after a breakthrough first year in Super Rugby with the Blues, All Blacks midfielder Roger Tuivasa-Sheck knows he's still far from the finished product.
Now into his second year of rugby union after a code switch from the NRL last year, Tuivasa-Sheck says he has to keep improving, despite his impressive displays in 2022.
In his first full season of rugby union after previously spending his whole career in the NRL, Tuivasa-Sheck stood out for the Blues on their run to the Super Rugby final, and earned an All Blacks call-up in the process.
But the 29-year-old found game time hard to come by in the black jersey, limited to just one start and a handful of minutes off the bench in his attempt to break into Ian Foster's plans.
Aside from wanting to be part of a Blues side to end a now 20-year drought for a Super Rugby title, Tuivasa-Sheck's 2023 also comes with the incentive of earning a ticket to France for this year's World Cup.
However, with no shortage of competition for places in the black jersey, Tuivasa-Sheck knows performances at Super Rugby level will be key in earning a test spot.
That comes against a backdrop of still learning what his role needs to be in rugby union, a challenge Tuivasa-Sheck is more than prepared for.
"I'm still trying, still working on it, still trying to find that balance," Tuivasa-Sheck told Newshub.
"In my case, I'm one of those players that wants to run everything and just crash it up. But [I'm] trying to find that balance of - as a 12 - [when to] pass the ball, kick the ball, try to get that connected game going.
"But for myself, I just keep relying on the boys around me and my coaches here to try and improve, and show I'm improving each week."
Aiding his push, comes incredible internal competition for spots with the Blues.
For now, Tuivasa-Sheck has hold of the Blues' No.12 jersey, starting in last week's 60-20 demolition of the Highlanders, and will continue against the Brumbies on Sunday.
Against the Highlanders, Tuivasa-Sheck made seven runs for 30 metres on the attack and 11 tackles on defence.
However, he was also shown a yellow card for repeated team infringements and concedes he needs to perform each week to stay in coach Leon MacDonald's first-team plans.
"For me, it's just being here, being in the moment and taking it week by week," he continued.
"I look at our backline already, we've got players like Bryce Heem, Corey Evans, Tanielu Tele'a whose coming back from injury.
"There's already a good bunch of midfielders here that could easily take mine and Rieks' [Rieko Ioane] spot.
"We're competing each week, and that's where I focus - just trying to perform for the Blues."
Tuivasa-Sheck also knows his future, especially at test level, could see him need to cover more than just midfield.
All Blacks greats Sir John Kirwan and Justin Marshall have both declared Tuivasa-Sheck's international future will depend on his versatility, with the wing looming as a likely positional switch.
Coach MacDonald went one step further, and outright laid down the same fact.
For the man himself, though, Tuivasa-Sheck will do what he's told.
"I'm just going to be playing wherever the coaches put me. I'm just trying to get on the field.
"Maybe not [playing flanker], we'll just see where the coaches put me.
"I'll just try to get on the field and just learn wherever I can."
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