Highlanders coach, Clarke Dermody, has sent a call to arms for his battling team to produce something special for their favourite brother.
"Win one for Nuggie" is the clear message ahead of Friday night’s final home game.
The clash with the Reds at Forsyth Barr Stadium is vital for the Highlanders’ playoff chances, which remain alive after the last-gasp 20-17 win over the Rebels on Saturday, but also a huge night for the team’s immortal halfback.
Aaron Smith will make his last appearance at home for the Highlanders before an away game against the Blues, a potential playoff game (or three) that will be on the road, and one final All Blacks campaign before heading to Japan.
"Nuggie’s obviously our most-capped player, and he’s pretty much done everything you can in rugby," Dermody said.
"He’s been hugely loyal to the club. We owe it to him.
"He’s a pretty special guy for the Highlanders, so it would be good to send him off on the right note."
The Reds, coached by former Highlanders lock Brad Thorn, fell back to Earth after their shock win over the Chiefs with a 45-26 loss to the Blues last Friday night.
Dermody, however, expects the Australians to be just as motivated as his team.
"They’re a hugely physical team.
"We’ve got a short week, so we need to make sure we get the team right, selection right, and get the boys right up for what is going to be a big test for us."
The Highlanders, eighth at the final whistle on Saturday but bumped out of the playoff spots after the Force’s shock 34-19 win over the Brumbies, are past the point of needing to worry about how they are playing.
Just winning is the essential approach if they are to squeeze into the playoffs, and while there was nothing pretty about their win over the Rebels, they got the job done despite a broadly inconsistent performance.
"It sort of sums our season up, that game.
"We had so much territory and possession in the first half but just couldn’t quite get over the line through a bit of execution stuff, and we left the Rebels in it, and it could have gone either way in the end.
"There were a lot of opportunities. One or two more rucks might have been the answer, as opposed to trying to force an offload.
"Again our exits weren’t up to scratch. If we’re considering even entering the playoffs, that stuff has got to be a lot better.
"We got the win but probably not quite the performance.
"I guess we’re still alive. It’s a big game next week, and a lot of emotion around with Nuggie’s last game."
Dermody was frantically planning some golden-point scenarios at the end of the Rebels game but had a fair amount of confidence Gilbert was going to land the winning penalty.
His most versatile back was having a heck of a season, the coach said.
"I’m stoked for him. He’s turning into a leader of our team, and for him to be able to step up and do that was awesome."
Dermody was also warm in his praise of Shannon Frizell, who has been a revelation as a makeshift lock but will ideally return to his preferred No6 jersey over the next two weeks.
"What’s happened, through necessity, is he is getting a lot more touches of the ball and a lot more tackles.
"It would be nice to get him back to his favourite position and see the form that makes him the All Black he is."
There appeared, touch wood, to be no new Highlanders' injuries after the win over the Rebels.
Specialist locks Josh Dickson and Will Tucker both missed the game with head knocks and will require further assessment, but Pari Pari Parkinson should be back on deck after his illness.
The Chiefs rediscovered winning form by grinding out a 23-12 win over the Hurricanes to cement their place at the top of the table.
