After admitting his own uncertainty over his role as All Blacks captain, being named as the man to lead his country in 2023 isn't something Sam Cane takes for granted.
Blighted by injuries since replacing Kieran Read as skipper in 2020, Cane has stayed fit this season and put in a string of performances that have helped the Chiefs to the Super Rugby Pacific final.
Cane's positional battle with Blues opposite Dalton Papali'i, and the presence of Sam Whitelock and Ardie Savea - both of whom have captained the national team in his absence - would have had him looking over his shoulder.
As coach Ian Foster's 36-man squad was read to the nation, Cane, 31, keeping the captaincy was something that will never get old for him.
"Obviously, it's a huge privilege - not something I take for granted by any means," he said. "I was under no assumptions it would be the case that I'd be named this year.
"I'm really, really grateful that the selectors and Fozzie have put the faith in me.
"We've got one more game this Super Rugby season, but hearing that squad announced for the first time gets you pretty excited."
Cane's personal delight comes as one of his great friends in the game - Chiefs co-captain Brad Weber - misses out.
Everything Cane has done for the franchise this season has been with Weber by his side, with the pair steering their side to within one win of a first Super Rugby title in 10 years, but the form of Hurricanes young gun Cam Roigard forced a difficult choice to make in the No.9 jersey.
With Finlay Christie picked as the senior back-up to Aaron Smith, Weber was the man to make way. This season is his last in New Zealand, before relocating to France in 2024.
Cane knows Weber can put aside his disappointment for one final push to overthrow the Crusaders on Saturday and sign off on a high.
"He's one guy I thought of straight away, when seeing the team announcement," he continued. "He's a tough character, he's been playing some good footy.
"It's the selectors' choice, but I think everyone can see there's not a lot between some of those halfbacks.
"Being the type of character he is, I know he'll do everything that's required to go out and have an awesome game for us in his last game for the Chiefs this weekend."
