Seven years and 40 tests after his All Blacks debut, Damian McKenzie admits he's trying to reclaim his place back in the national team for this year's Rugby World Cup in France.
Named in the No.10 jersey for Sunday's Rugby Championship opener against Argentina, the Chiefs star heads off Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett, who have dominated the first-five position over recent years.
To his bemusement, McKenzie will also take first shot at the goalkicking role, but insists his appointment to that particular job wasn't a case of him claiming the responsibility as of right.
"We just have a bit of a yack during the week and we've obviously got some pretty astute goalkickers," he said. "I've got the first crack and if I'm going no good, the bloke next to me, Jordie [Barrett] can take over.
"I'm trying to earn my stripes back in the squad, to be fair, so I get told where I'm going, but the boys were happy for me to goalkick and it's something I enjoy doing. As I say, first crack and hopefully I'll make the most of it."
Four years ago, McKenzie seemed poised to play an integral part in the All Blacks' World Cup campaign, with the dual playmaker concept designed to accommodate his ability to break a game open from first-five or fullback.
That prospect ended, when he tore knee ligaments during Super Rugby and never made the plane to Japan.
His career was interrupted again last year, when he did catch the big silver bird to the 'Land of the Rising Sun', playing for Tokyo Sungoliath in the Japan League One competition and forfeiting his All Blacks eligibility.
His form for the Chiefs this year has been compelling, with McKenzie's pinpoint goalkicking making him the competition's leading pointscorer on 191 points.
That momentum has carried him into the first All Blacks line-up of another World Cup campaign, but he's under no illusions about his claims on the jersey.
"I'm grateful for the first crack in the first test of the year," he said. "I've had a good year so far, and I've been given that opportunity, but we've still got Richie and Baz, who have been playing great rugby.
"I wouldn't say the jersey is mine whatsoever, but it is an opportunity, so it's about playing my game. Obviously, we've got a gameplan, but you just want to be yourself, be instinctive and try to play the rugby I've played all year.
"It's an opportunity, so I'll be trying to make the most of it."
With Mo'unga and Barrett both heading offshore next year, McKenzie, 28, again carries the future hopes of the national side at first-five, a position he has filled very little at international level.
As the Chiefs continued their dominant march across Super Rugby Pacific (until the final), opposition teams adopted a tactical-kicking game to negate their forward superiority. McKenzie, along with fullback Shaun Stevenson, largely defused that strategy with their own prowess off the boot.
"My game has matured a little bit from what it has been in the past," he admitted. "I probably used to run myself into trouble a bit and put the team under pressure.
"I've learnt that kicking is a big part of being a playmaker and having that experience this year with the Chiefs has been great. My game has probably matured a lot more than it has been in the past."
Both Mo'unga (bench) and Beauden Barrett (fullback) are also in the gameday squad against the Pumas, so McKenzie can feel their presence in the scramble for the treasured No.10.
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