He attended one of Christchurch's most prestigious secondary schools.
He played for the red and blacks before he had even played senior club rugby.
But co-captain Nasi Manu says he is a Highlander, through and through.
Manu, still only 25, has been one of the best for the Highlanders this year. Arguably, he has been the form No 8 of the competition, and he has made metres whenever he has had the ball.
The Christchurch Boys' High School product will take on some of his old team-mates in the Crusaders tonight, happily wearing the Highlanders jersey.
''I'm a Highlanders man now. Super rugby and ITM Cup rugby are totally different. I think this is my home,'' he said.
''It is going to be a tough challenge. I know most of the Crusaders boys and I will probably meet up with them and catch up, have a coffee before the game. But in the game it is all about the battle.''
Manu played 16 games, mostly off the bench, for the Crusaders in 2008-09, but with the star of Kieran Read on the rise, he headed south in 2010.
He has played 44 games for the Highlanders and is likely to be back for another year.
Manu, who was born in Lincoln, no longer has any family links with Canterbury, although he is still contracted to the Canterbury union. He has played 63 games for the province.
His sister, Bessie, plays for the Waikato-based Magic in netball's ANZ Championship, while younger brother Nela is playing rugby in Wellington.
His father, Tavake, is a chaplain in the New Zealand army and is now based in Waiouru, previously working at the Burnham camp, just outside Christchurch.
''Everyone has sort of moved now. So pretty much, I am now a Highlanders man.
''It is a massive game this week. They won't have Kieran Read this weekend. I love the challenge of playing against him. I guess him not being there makes it a wee bit easier but not a lot.''
As of yesterday afternoon, about 20,000 tickets had been sold for the game.
