The Otago Whalers will be aiming to embrace the latter philosophy when they begin their representative campaign against the Southland Rams in Invercargill tomorrow.
With 16 new players in a 26-man squad, it is a much-changed side from the one that finished third in last year's six-team South Island premier competition.
Otago coach David Reedy said while it was difficult forming combinations with so many changes, he and his players were excited and confident they could perform well.
"Our team goal is to win it and our next goal is to make the final," Reedy said.
He said the high turnover of players was due to about 80% of his side being students.
Two of those players in key positions will be halfback Sam Davison (21) and standoff Ben McKerchar (18).
McKerchar, a born-and-bred Southlander, said it was an "honour and a privilege" to be selected for Otago, and he was enthusiastic about stepping up to representative level.
He had been looking forward to tomorrow's game since the team was announced and was expecting a physical welcome from the Rams and a boisterous welcome from their supporters.
Reedy said another key player for the Whalers would be fullback Ben Loughrey-Webb.
He said Loughrey-Webb (22) was the biggest talker on the field and the organiser of the backline.
The Whalers will be co-captained for a second year by Manassah Kutia (29), who plays in the second or back row, and prop Koben Katipa (36).
"Manassah gives all the players around him confidence and is a steadying influence on the team and a true leader," Reedy said.
Kutia said he was honoured to be representing the province. Like Reedy, he wanted to make the South Island final at the very least.
Another key player will be Shane Unahi (31), in his sixth season in the team. Reedy said Unahi was vital to the team's chances because he provided a wealth of experience and could fill several positions, from second row to centre to prop.
The Whalers began training about four weeks ago and lost a pre-season game to the Rams last Saturday.
Reedy said his team had learned a lot from that match. It was the first game the players had had in about eight weeks, and they were a bit rusty.
All other provinces had a decent winter competition, he said. Because Otago only had a league with three club teams, fitness and conditioning had been the main priority in the Whalers' preparation.
Reedy expected defending champion Canterbury A to be the benchmark, but was not taking any team lightly.
This year's competition has been reduced to five teams, with Canterbury under-20 dropping out. All teams will play each other once, with the top two teams playing in a final.
As a curtain-raiser to tomorrow's game, Otago under-15 will play Southland under-15 in the third of a three-match series. Southland leads the series 2-0.
Otago Whalers
2012 schedule
August 25: v Southland Rams, Invercargill
September 1: v Canterbury A, Christchurch
September 8: v West Coast Chargers, Dunedin
September 22: v Tasman Titans, Nelson
September 29: Final.
