Ioane (23) has impressed for his adopted province since he first put on the Otago jersey last season.
But it was a far from simple journey to that jersey for someone who is, ironically, something of an up-the-middle, block-busting runner.
Ioane grew up in Wellington, attending Wellington College, and was good enough to make the New Zealand schools side in 2007, alongside the likes of Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Robbie Robinson.
He was in the Wellington rugby academy for three years but he started wondering whether he would take that next step.
"Every year they would say to me: 'You are there or thereabouts. This year will be your year.' But there were a few stars ahead of me. Guys like Faifili Levave and Victor Vito," he said.
"But then I got an opportunity with Otago. They did not promise anything, just that if I came down and played a few club games then I had an opportunity.
"I had a talk with the old man ... and ended up coming down here.
"I played a few club games and then they picked a squad and everyone got a call to say they were in it. But I didn't get a call so just thought I had not made the squad. I decided I would play one more club game and then head back to Wellington.
"So I went down to training at the club, Southern, and Reggie [Mike Reggett] asked me what I was doing there. He said it was in the paper that I was in the squad. So I went and bought a paper and there I was, in the squad. I had to quickly change my plans."
Ioane had a stand-out season with Otago last year and is continuing that form this year, with his strong running a key for the Razorbacks.
Ioane - Tala James is his full first name but he was termed TJ after there was another Tala at school - said he was enjoying the Otago team.
"For us boys, it is about creating quick ball for the backs and then giving them support and taking the ball up. Everyone is pretty honest and hard-working and looks out for each other."
Ioane said he liked to get his hands on the ball, as that was his strength.
When he is not playing rugby, he works as the sports co-ordinator at Carisbrook School, and spending time with 14-month-old son Lachlan and partner Maua Ah-Chong.
Making the Highlanders was a goal, but not something he was fixated on, he said.
Jamie Joseph, when he was Wellington coach, had told him he was too small (at 1.82m and 104kg) to play blindside flanker or No 8, Ioane said.
He tried a couple of games at openside flank but found he was not a fetcher, and was more suited to ball-running as a blindside flanker or No 8.
That game will need to be to the fore tonight in what is looming as an important match for both sides.
Southland has had a poor start to the season, losing both its games heavily and being hard-hit by injuries.
It has more than half a dozen players out for tonight's game, and former Dunedin No 8 Scott McKee will make his debut.
Southland has not lost to Otago in the national provincial competition since 2008.
Otago needs to make the most of chances which come along in what is usually a tight game. The scrum will be under examination again and must be solid.
Conditions are expected to be fine in Invercargill tonight although there is a chance of rain.
Otago v Southland
Invercargill, tonight, 7.35pm
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (Bay of Plenty)
TAB odds: Otago $1.87, Southland $1.87
Otago: Tony Ensor, Marshall Suckling, Jayden Spence, Glenn Dickson, Buxton Popoali'i, Hayden Parker, Fumiaka Tanaka, Paul Grant (captain), Lee Allan, TJ Ioane, Rob Verbakel, Tom Franklin, Tama Tuirirangi, Liam Coltman, Scott Manson. Reserves: Shota Horie, Aki Seuli, Gareth Evans, Adam Hill, Brad Weber, Peter Breen, Michael Collins.
Southland: Marty McKenzie, Kade Poki, Nathan Hohaia, Cardiff Vaega, Tom Cornforth, Robbie Robinson, Jimmy Cowan, Scott McKee, Alex Taylor, Hoani MacDonald, Michael Fatialofa, Josh Bekhuis, Nic Barrett, Talemaitoga Tuapati, Jamie Mackintosh (captain). Reserves: Jason Rutledge, Tuki Raimona, Ben Nally, Dion Bates, Nemia Kenatale, Mark Wells, Junior Ngaluafe.
