Dagg has played every minute of every game at the back for the southern franchise and has looked at home at the higher level, kicking when needed and defending stoutly when the pressure is on.
He said he was loving the Highlanders environment and was keen to push for higher honours.
"You want to play every game as good as you can, and obviously everyone wants to play for higher honours.
I don't know about the All Blacks but maybe something to aim at this year is New Zealand Juniors, New Zealand Maori," Dagg said.
He said he needed to improve off the field as a player.
"If anything there are just lots of little things that I need to get better at. Keeping to a diary properly. Some of the guys here have really shown me how it is done."
But first he was focused on taking on the Stormers tonight, with the Highlanders keen to bounce back from the demoralising loss to the Blues last week.
"We just got out-passioned at the breakdown and they played better than us on the day. Everyone was pretty gutted to get smashed like we did.
"But we've addressed that at training this week. We've trained quite hard at the breakdown area and been doing some skills work, as we dropped a lot of ball last week."
Dagg will be a key man against a Stormers side missing its captain and inspiration, midfield back Jean de Villiers, who has returned to South Africa because of a groin injury.
Dagg said the key to winning was simple.
"We just need to play a lot better than last week. When we get the ball we've got to hang on to it and get some phases going. That is the key to our game."
He has looked assured under the high ball and is sure to get another test tonight from a Stormers backline which has a makeshift look about it.
Regular centre Gcobani Bobo has been shunted to the wing, while Peter Grant moves out one place to second five-eighth.
On the other wing, big Fijian Sireli Naqelevuki has been struggling for form but will be dangerous if given space.
In the pack, experienced international Schalk Burger takes over the captaincy from de Villiers, and he will combine with Luke Watson and Duane Vermeulen.
Big Springbok lock Andries Bekker plays his first match for more than a month, and is paired in the second row with veteran AJ Venter.
The Stormers have been hit by injury while on tour, but coach Rassie Eramus was not using that as an excuse, saying injuries were just part of the competition.
He said Burger had kept the team together, taking over as captain.
Burger will be important tonight, for if he is at his destructive best the Highlanders may struggle to get going.
It is in the contact area that the Highlanders went missing last week and they have spent training this week trying to rectify that problem.
Better policing in that area from referee Matt Goddard will also help the home side.
The Highlanders believe they are in the hunt for the semifinals and must win tonight, and a bonus point is all but a necessity.
It is the team's last home match of the of the season before it flies to South Africa on Sunday.
The squad to travel for three games will be decided tomorrow after injuries are assessed following tonight's match.
Anzac Day will be marked tonight with a moment's silence before kick-off to be followed by the playing of the The Last Post .
