The only way was up and Otago exploded out of the blocks last night to make a statement in this year's ITM Cup.
All Black assistant coach Steve Hansen says the sheer physical nature of the just-completed Super 15 is more than anyone expected and will lead to players being managed before the World Cup.
Otago has named six new caps in its starting side to take on North Harbour at Carisbrook tomorrow night.
He may turn 37 at the end of the month but Kees Meeuws shows no sign of slowing down. Steve Hepburn talks to the big tighthead prop about the coming season and what keeps him motivated.
Otago won its final pre-season match last night, overcoming Southland 13-8 in terrible conditions in Invercargill.
Posts up, lines marked - and then Graham, Richie and the boys breezed in.
It may not have been the greatest of club seasons for Scot Puckett and Simon Body, but their hard work has paid off with a stint in Tonga helping get the country's World Cup side fit.
He may be only a new boy in the Otago team but Gareth Evans derived just as much pleasure as anyone when Otago ended its long losing drought against Auckland last week.
The Highlanders will start consulting on their new 2013 jersey in September and want the issue put to bed by the end of the year.
The Otago team managed to avoid the worst of the storm sweeping the country and arrived back in Dunedin late yesterday, licking its wounds after failing to front up mentally to a Hawkes Bay side on Sunday.
Coach Graham Henry gave the All Blacks a pass mark, although he admitted they have plenty to work on before they start the Tri-Nations next Saturday.
The last test after the last test will be played out tonight at Carisbrook, and a good sprinkling of Highlanders will be in action.
If it had all gone right this year for Colin Slade, he would be very familiar with Carisbrook. After all, this was to be his new home ground in 2011.
All Black coach Graham Henry will mix and match his side in the next few weeks because if some players do not get space, they'll be "dead men trying to play rugby".
Otago captain Eben Joubert says his side must retain the hunger and passion from its first match when taking on Auckland tonight.
Ben Smith feels he is more ready for the test arena and his call-up to the black jersey is the completion of a fantastic year.
Cory Jane agrees it has been that sort of season.
Otago has made just one change - forced by injury - to its team take on Auckland at Eden Park tomorrow as the helter-skelter nature of this year's ITM Cup takes over.
Fiji has sidestepped any standoff with the New Zealand Government and not named army private Leone Nakarawa in its squad to take on the All Blacks at Carisbrook on Friday night.
Otago Boys' repelled everything King's could throw at it and came away a comfortable winner in the annual interschool match at Carisbrook last night.