Veteran lock Sam Whitelock is eager to return to the All Blacks pack for this week's Bledisloe Cup opener against Australia, after being forced to bide his time on the sidelines with injury.
After picking up a niggly Achilles strain during Super Rugby Pacific, Whitelock returned to action a little earlier than planned to contest the final, last the full 80 minutes for a man-of-the-match performance that set him back in his recovery.
After sitting out the opening two tests of New Zealand's Rugby World Cup build-up - comprehensive victories over Argentina and world champions South Africa - he's understandably antsy about reclaiming his spot in the second row.
"I feel like I'm in a really good spot," said Whitelock. "I was cleared to play last game, but just not selected.
"I got through the full training week, which was good, and obviously I was in Argie as well, so I've been in and around the team for the last couple of weeks.
"Hopefully, team selection goes my way and I get the chance to get out there."
Whitelock, 34, watched from the stand, as Scott Barrett and Josh Lord started at lock against the Pumas, but was deemed fit enough to run water, with Barrett and Brodie Retallick selected in the second row against the Springboks.
"The team has played really well the last two games," he said. "The hunger is always there and if your hunger changed, whether you're starting, on the bench or not playing, I'd be a little bit concerned about what your motivations are being here.
"My hunger is exactly the same as it always is - I want to be out there and playing good rugby for myself, but also helping the team in any way, whatever role that is."
His likely return sets up a selection conundrum for coach Ian Foster, with Whitelock, Retallick and Barrett all deserving starting spots in the All Blacks pack. The form of blindside flanker Shannon Frizell makes it hard to simply slide Barrett into the No.6 jersey, where he has been equally as successful in the past.
"We'll pick the best team and we're honest with the boys early on," insists forwards coach Jason Ryan. "We've got three world-class locks - world-leading locks, to be honest - and we've got a couple of younger fellas doing a pretty good job as well.
"We're brave in selections and there are no guarantees for anyone, and that's the way the All Blacks should be."
Whitelock will have no talk of the threeway battle.
"I think there's two people you haven't even mentioned, with [Tupou Vaa'i] and Lordy," he said. "It's never just two people out there playing.
"The whole group has to manage how we're preparing, how we're playing, so sometimes your role is different. We've all been around long enough to know that five doesn't go into two, but that's a good thing.
"For me, as a player, it's about worrying about what you can control, how you're preparing and when you do get an opportunity, how you go out there and play.
"It's a good sign for us as players and the forward pack as a team. Lock is just one of those positions where there is some heat at the moment, which is great, but you can look at a number of positions and if you asked everyone in the room here who your staring XV is, everyone's got a different opinion.
"That's a good thing - it means there's a competitive edge in the squad and it means you've got to go out there and perform, because if you don't, someone is there ready to go."
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