But the hard-hitting blindside flanker will have extra reason to produce something special against the Chiefs in Hamilton tomorrow afternoon.
It is Super Rugby’s designated "Kids Round", when teams are asked to make games especially accessible for the youngsters — as the Highlanders did to great effect against the Brumbies last weekend — and players are encouraged to reflect on their formative years in the sport.
For Withy, it means reflecting with sadness and also great pride on a lost mate.
Otautau lad Jonty Carran was just 13 when he went to sleep in February 2016 and never woke up.
"I played a lot of my junior rugby with Jonty," Withy said yesterday.
"He sadly passed away, so I always cherish the memories of playing with him, and I’m still in contact with his younger brother and his family.
"I’ve got little key rings that I carry around in my bag with a photo of us when we were playing under-48kg when we were younger, so that’s a good memory."
Withy also reflected warmly on his days playing junior rugby in Dipton.
The boys on the other side of the field will be a bit bigger tomorrow, and the Highlanders loose forwards are sure to have their hands full with the Chiefs’ attacking weapons.
Withy is back in the No6 jersey after a couple of weeks on the bench, and while he is steaming for action from the whistle, he did not mind the experience of coming off the bench in the win over the Waratahs and the close loss to the Brumbies.
"I feel like I can have a role to play there and find ways in the game where I can make an impact.
"That’s been my role the last couple of weeks, and I enjoyed it and felt like our impact as a whole off the bench got us over the line in that Waratahs game."
Withy and Billy Harmon resume their partnership on the flanks but they will have a new No8 — Tom Sanders replaces Nikora Broughton, who in turn replaced the injured Hugh Renton.
"They’re all quite different players.
"Hughie and Tommy are both hard-nosed, hard workers, physical guys, bigger men.
"Nikora is different again. He’s a really skilful player, runs good lines, sees holes and sees those opportunities."
Opportunity knocks for these Highlanders.
A 17-game losing streak against fellow New Zealand teams is painful but the carrot is being the Highlanders team to break it, and they are not scared to talk about it ahead of the Chiefs clash and the Easter Saturday derby against the Hurricanes.
"We have addressed it this week," Withy said.
"There’s a bit of motivation there, and this is a good opportunity for us. I feel like we’re in a good position to get the monkey off the back, so to speak.
"We’re 0-17 and we don’t want to make it 0-18. We’ve got two opportunities in the next two weeks to do something about it."
While Withy is a Highlanders hero in autumn, he will turn into the enemy — of sorts — in the spring.
He is going to home to play for the Southland Stags after four years and 24 games for Otago
"It was a difficult decision. Otago gave me my first chance to play professional rugby when I came here out of school, and I’ve absolutely loved my time here.
"It was just a personal decision, and something I wanted to do in my rugby career.
"Southland’s my home, and I love going back to the farm and hanging out with my parents, and I’ve got a lot of mates who are down there. I felt like the timing was right."
