Things are looking pretty good for Jamie Mackintosh.
His old team, the Highlanders, is calling in on Saturday for a match between the two New Zealand sides that tasted wins last week.
Mackintosh (29) said the three months he had been in Chiefs territory had gone fast and he was really enjoying it.
''It has been bloody good so far. It's been an awesome change to come up here and do something new. I've been up here three months now, finding my feet and getting to know the place,'' he said.
''We work hard here. There are long days, training hard all of the time. But it is exciting ... I was lucky enough to be put into the leadership group here, which I am pretty happy about. The boys voted on it and put me in there, which is great for me.''
Training in Hamilton was not too dissimilar to training in Dunedin, although there were plenty of details to work on at the Chiefs and he was working hard on defensive systems with assistant coach Wayne Smith.
Mackintosh said he was benefiting from the new rules around scrummaging, where the emphasis was not so much around the hit but on getting into a good position and pushing as a whole eight.
With six props in the squad, there was plenty of competition for places and that could only be a good thing, the loosehead prop said.
The side started its season with an 18-10 victory over the Crusaders in Christchurch last Friday night and Mackintosh said although it won, there was still plenty to work on this week.
Playing against his old team, which he captained for two seasons and played for 67 times, is something Mackintosh is not paying too much attention to.
He is not thinking of it as a big match for him but something for his new team.
''It is exciting and that is a lot to do with the franchise we are playing. But, for me, it has just added to the excitement of this week. I am really focused on playing for the Chiefs.
''We put in a big defensive effort last week but there are still plenty of areas to improve on.''
Mackintosh, who signed a new two-year deal with Southland last week, did not see the Highlanders beat the Blues last Saturday night - he was at a wedding - but said they must have played well.
''Both teams can put themselves in the position of being the only unbeaten team in the competition if they win the game, so there is plenty at stake.''
Mackintosh's tenure at the Highlanders did not end well. He played only five games last season, as the side endured a miserable season.
He expected a few sneaky texts from team-mates nearer the game on Saturday night but one senses there is no massive sense of payback driving Mackintosh this week.
''It will be good to catch up with a few of the boys after the game but the focus has to be on putting together a good performance here and getting a win.''
