Rugby's man of the hour - come forward Kieran the colossus.
All Black captain - well, for tonight anyway - Kieran Read did not appear to have any pre-match butterflies yesterday.
The All Blacks will be going for their 30th straight victory on their own shores tonight.
Pride in performance and maintaining high standards should be motivation enough to get the team home across the line in the third Bledisloe Cup match of the year.
Read, who has been in sublime form for the All Blacks this year, said for him the test tonight was a great way to finish off the domestic rugby season.
''For me it is another test match to try and get up there and really show what I can do. It is awesome to be at home for our last test of the year. You don't want to be looking too far ahead and the Aussies are a big test for us,'' he said.
''It is great to be here in Dunedin and hopefully we'll put in a good performance.''
The father of two had a busy day yesterday and a visit to Warrington School showed off another, softer side to his personality.
Read sat on a child's chair and sang the Maori song Tutira Mai nga iwi with school pupils.
Earlier, the 46 pupils at the small rural school recited to Reid and All Black hooker Dane Coles a song that had helped the school win the visit in the Sport Otago Paint it All Black competition.
After the passionate rendition, the two All Blacks answered the pupils' probing questions: Who was the smartest All Black (Conrad Smith), silliest (Cory Jane), funniest (Ma'a Nonu) and fastest (Ben Smith).
Pupil Rosa Cameron (7) asked who was the best looking (Dan Carter).
Then the All Blacks signed autographs and returned high-fives.
Junior teacher Wendy Russell said staff had kept the visit a secret from the pupils and their caregivers and the children, aged between 5 and 13, were told to dress in black yesterday because Otago Daily Times staff were coming to take their picture.
''We will be buzzing about this for ages.''
When the All Blacks stepped from the car, Germaine Wi (10) said she was ''speechless'' and Myah Omipi (10) said she ''nearly cried with joy''.
Pride is also a motivating factor for Read, who continues to improve and is clearly the best No 8 in world rugby.
He signed a deal last week to stay in New Zealand for the next four years.
Read, who turns 28 next Saturday, when questioned on players returning to New Zealand had a simple answer.
''It just shows the culture we have around this place. It is pretty big. Guys like being in New Zealand. It is probably no secret, it is a great place to live.''
It will be an even better place about 9.30 if Read and his team-mates deliver tonight.
A sell-out crowd of 29,000 is expected at Forsyth Barr Stadium and just 377 tickets remained unsold last night. Police had a simple message for rugby fans.
''Don't arrive at the venue drunk or you won't get in. It's as simple as that,'' Dunedin Clutha Waitaki Area Commander Inspector Greg Sparrow said.
Large crowds were expected to enter the Octagon area after the match and people should make plans for getting home safely, before they left home, he said.
''Stick with your mates and look after each other when you're out, and catch a cab home if you've been drinking, or arrange for a sober driver.''
Police had rostered extra staff for the weekend, as the ground also hosts the ITM Cup championship semifinal between Otago and Hawkes Bay tomorrow.
