Halfback Folau Fakatava has known this moment would arrive sooner or later - but his fulltime occupation of the Highlanders No.9 is now imminent.
As franchise legend Aaron Smith, 34, took his last curtain call at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium, his understudy showed he was ready to take the baton, with his outrageous dummy and last-minute try stealing a much-needed win over the Reds in the final seconds.
The result keeps the southerners' Super Rugby Pacific playoff hopes alive for another week, while signalling a distinct changing of the guard between master and pupil.
"Since I came into the 'Landers, 'Nuggy' has always helped me out and he told me everything," reflected Fakatava. "He told me, when he goes, I'm taking over.
"It's his legacy... I can't play as good as he plays, but for me now, it's my own legacy. I'll do my best and hopefully make him proud, when he's overseas."
When Fakatava, 23, stunned the Reds, no-one on the Highlanders bench celebrated more than Smith, with the pair sharing a very personal moment afterwards.
"He was so proud," said Fakatava. "We didn't know what to say to each other, we were just hugging and, like, 'Yeah!'
"I told him it was for him - it was a team try."
Fakatava admits he has resisted offers from other NZ teams to stay with the Highlanders, who gave him his first Super Rugby opportunity in 2019. Loyalty to the franchise and his mentor has kept him in Dunedin.
"I was just a young kid coming from Tonga and buzzing out," he recalled. "He was my idol and I ended up playing with him, together in one team - it was a dream come true.
"He didn't try to teach me how to play like him, but he pushed me to my strength and told me to keep doing what I was doing.
"We'll keep in touch when he goes, but I making the most of it at the moment. We've got a few more weeks.
"He's only a phone call away, so I can still ask him anything about my game and we'll keep helping each other."
Realistically, this week may be the last time Smith and Fakatava team up. The Highlanders probably need to topple the third-placed Blues to assure their post-season fate, with three other teams queuing up behind to take their top-eight spot.
Beyond that, Fakatava must head off rivals Brad Weber, Finlay Christie, Cam Roigard and maybe even TJ Perenara to secure a role as Smith's All Blacks back-up at the Rugby World Cup.
Regardless of what happens over the next few weeks, Fakatava doesn't discount the possibility of a reunion, after his current contract expires in 2025.
"Hopefully, he will still be playing in Japan and we can play together," he chuckled. "He's still got it.
"I told him after the game, he could be 40 and still going. He's that good and looks after his body as well.
"He's still playing like he's 21."
Joine Newshub at 7pm Friday for live updates of the Highlanders v Blues Super Rugby Pacific clash
