And we are not talking about those little dances he likes to perform or the tunes he will spontaneously belt out.
We are talking about his shift to lock.
The Otago loosie has been mostly packing down in the second row this season.
It is not by design. The colourful 26-year-old has not experienced a very late and dramatic growth spurt.
The move has been by necessity.
Otago have been soldiering on with regular locks Fabian Holland and Will Tucker confined to the sidelines for a portion of the season.
The "Fish" has filled in and done a tremendous job in their absence.
"I didn’t really have a choice because of the injuries. But I actually love playing in the middle of the field," he said.
"I’m not really an edge player. I always play in the middle of the field so it hasn’t really changed much."
You have to make a lot of tackles in the middle and Fischli has kept his workload high.
Otago have made more tackles than any of the other 13 teams in the NPC and Fischli has made his share.
Fischli grew up in Milton but shifted to Dunedin after school and has been a regular at the boot of the Taieri scrum.
The qualified builder has also played at blindside and came very close to wearing the No 7 jersey for Otago this season. He was named to start there against Manawatu, but Holland was a late scratching and Fischli was shifted back to lock.
"To get a crack at openside for Otago would have been awesome considering who the others have been in the past."
This year it has mostly been Harry Taylor in the No 7 jersey and he has made more tackles (140) in the competition than everybody except Manawatu’s TK Howden (154). Otago’s Will Stodart (115) is in the top five as well.
Otago’s defence has been a real highlight this season. But they will be chasing a bonus-point win over Northland in Whangarei tonight.
It is a must-win game for Otago. But even if they win, they will need other results to go their way to make the playoffs.
Auckland’s loss to Tasman on Wednesday night — keeping Otago 10th, two points clear of the Aucklanders — was a good start.
Otago will also need two teams out of Canterbury, Counties-Manukau and North Harbour to lose this weekend.
Plan A, B and C is to just throw everything at the Taniwha and hope for the best.
Fischli’s goal in the sport is to play in the Super Rugby competition, preferably for the Highlanders.
"I can cover four, five, six, seven and eight, so surely I’ll get something," he joked.
Fischli had a stint overseas last year. He played for the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby and they beat San Diego to claim the title.
Otago have stuck with more or less the same crew for the game against Northland.
Coach Tom Donnelly has put his faith in the side that eventually pulled away to beat Tasman 47-31 and inflict the first loss of the season on the Mako.
The only tweak is in thefront row, where Henry Belland Rohan Wingham come in for Liam Coltman and Benjamin Lopas.
Prop George Bower has returned from All Blacks duty and will take a spot on the bench in place of Moana Takataka.
Ethan de Groot will make a second appearance of the season for the Stags when they host Auckland tomorrow.
NPC
Whangarei, 7.05pm
Otago: Finn Hurley, Josh Whaanga, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Ajay Faleafaga, Hudson Creighton, Cameron Millar, James Arscott, Christian Lio-Willie (captain), Harry Taylor, Oliver Haig, Will Stodart, Sam Fischli, Saula Ma’u, Henry Bell, Rohan Wingham. Reserves: Liam Coltman, Benjamin Lopas, George Bower, Fabian Holland, Lucas Casey, Nathan Hastie, Joe Cooke, Waqa Nalaga.
Northland: Jordan Trainor, Brady Rush, Quinton Nichols, Heremaia Murray, Rivez Reihana, Lisati Milo-Harris, Simon Parker, Terrell Peita, Rob Rush, Sam Caird, Allan Craig, Chris Apoua, Matt Moulds (captain), Rob Cobb. Reserves: Richie Asiata,
Esile Fono, Remsy Lemisio, Liam Hallam-Eames, Rory Woods, Donald Boyd, Dan Hawkins, Nathan Salmon.
