Toby Morland says it is a bit surreal to think he is about to start a Super 14 semifinal.
But he still can not wait to get back to Dunedin, and see a few of his Otago team-mates.
Morland, who was drafted from Otago as the back-up halfback for the Chiefs in this year's Super 14, is likely to start in the No 9 jersey on Friday night, with regular halfback Brendon Leonard sidelined with a hamstring injury.
"It sort of has not really hit home yet that we're in to a semifinal.
"It just feels like another week, really.
"But we'll know it in a couple of days," Morland (26) said yesterday.
The nuggety halfback has never played in a semifinal, and said Hamilton was sure to be buzzing come Friday night, when the match kicks off.
A full house was predicted.
He said it was obviously a bonus starting the match, as opposed to entering the game later on.
Leonard has started most games but Morland had some starts in South Africa, and also played against semifinal opponents the Hurricanes in the round robin match, played on May 9, in Hamilton.
"I'm not a fan of coming off the bench.
"You're just running around like a mad snake.
"It's far better to start the game and get into the rhythm and intensity of it."
Morland said the players had talked about the Hurricanes yesterday morning and it seemed strange to be facing them again, just two weeks after playing and beating them, also at Hamilton.
"We've looked at our review of that game and just tweaking the game plan a wee bit."
Morland admitted he had a tough start to that match but slowly got on top.
"They [Hurricanes] tried to disrupt the link between the forwards and the backs and that didn't help me."
Morland said the side had studied ways to address that.
The Chiefs confirmed their home semifinal with a win in Hamilton over the Brumbies last Friday night.
"Those [last] two games have been really beneficial for us.
"It was a real lift in intensity and how to play in wet conditions.
"It's bound to be at least dewy on Friday night."
Morland is likely to face Piri Weepu on Friday night and said he had been playing against him since age-group rugby.
He was expecting nothing less than a torrid battle.
He said the side had not talked about the final.
"We've been like that all the way through, really - just concentrating on one game at a time."
What ever happens on Friday night, Morland said he was looking forward to returning to Dunedin to catch up with friends and Otago team-mates.
He is contracted to Otago until the end of this year.
Morland is not the only member of his family who has been away from home, as his parents followed him around South Africa when the Chiefs toured the republic, and his wife, Kate, has just returned from China, where she ran in a marathon.
