Of all the players to miss selection for All Blacks coach Ian Foster's Rugby Championship squad, Chiefs flyer Shaun Stevenson could be the most upset.
As a starter for the Super Rugby Pacific-leading Chiefs, Stevenson has been a key figure in his side's run to next week's final.
Of 17 possible Chiefs matches this season, Stevenson has missed just one, starting 14 and scoring 11 tries, averaging 66 minutes per game, but as the first All Blacks squad of the year was announced, his name was absent from the 36-man list.
As a specialist fullback who can cover the wings, Stevenson is faced with competition from Crusaders star Will Jordan, as well as Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie and Jordie Barrett, all of whom offer utility value from other positions.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has been a vocal advocate of higher honours for Stevenson, 26, who will instead provide injury cover for Mark Telea, who picked up a knock in the Blues' Super Rugby semi-final exit.
Asked what more Stevenson needed to do, Foster outlined the exact area he wants to see him mprove, with time running out for uncapped players to earn selection.
"He'll find that out when he comes in," Foster told Sky Sport. "We've got pretty specific job requirements on both sides of the ball.
"On the attack side, he's proven to be outstanding. He should be very proud of his year.
"We've seen a massive improvement in the defensive structural stuff - the tackle and the contact work - but we still want to see a bit more in that space.
"The fact he's going to come in and be with us, maybe for those first two tests, is a great opportunity to get a good read of that."
Franchise teammate Emoni Narawa won selection in the outside backs ahead of him, while Chiefs loose forward Samipeni Finau was arguably the biggest shock in his first test call-up.
With one Super Rugby game still to play, former All Blacks winger Jeff Wilson urges Stevenson to take his chance against the Crusaders as a final audition to win Foster over.
"He's actually got one more week - and that's in a final against the Crusaders," he said. "His standing and his stock can rise even more, if he goes out and delivers once again, which is great."
