Herden (32) will make a special comeback when he captains the Old Golds in their Ranfurly Shield challenge in Invercargill tomorrow night.
The game against Southland will be his first in a gold jersey since 2005, when he was fullback in one of the great North Otago sides, which came within a botched officiating call of beating Hawkes Bay and reaching the final of the old second division.
That memory, and his frustration at not getting more caps for Otago, will provide extra motivation.
Herden, a teacher at Balmacewen Intermediate, said he was delighted to receive a call from new North Otago coach Barry Matthews earlier this year.
"Barry's a very good coach, so straight away I was happy to commit if things didn't eventuate with Otago.
"And I've done my dash here," Herden said.
"I was hesitant at first to say yes to captaining North Otago.
"But quite a few players have come back into the team, and those guys will be a great help for me.
"I've got history with the team, which makes it different.
"I know the public and I know a lot of the players. It's a privilege to be asked."
Herden said he had not spoken about the captaincy to previous skipper Ross Hay, the vastly experienced and much-respected flanker.
"He's running the forwards. I wouldn't have a clue what they do.
"I'll be out there to guide the backs. Bones [Hay] will be consulted a lot."
North Otago set high standards with its success under Glenn Moore, who went on to coach the Highlanders, in the early part of last decade, and then Mike Mullins, who guided the side to a Meads Cup win in 2007.
Herden said the province had to set its sights on winning the Heartland Championship every year.
Matthews had pulled together a large, committed squad and a sound management structure, and was setting high standards in fitness and work ethic.
"We've got flair, guys prepared to graft, some class and some toughness.
"If we can harness that, we'll be heading in the right direction."
Herden earned 37 first-class caps for North Otago, mainly as a fullback, as a loan player from the Southern club between 2002 and 2005.
He then earned four caps (one start) for Otago, two in 2007 and two last year.
He said there was "a fair bit of frustration" his career in the top division did not go far.
"I had a couple of runs and I was quite comfortable with my ability.
"I wasn't out of my depth but didn't get another look in, and that was disappointing.
"I can say I got there but I don't think I got a chance to show what I could do."
Herden and all 14 of his team-mates will need to show everything they can do and quite a bit more if they are to stay competitive tomorrow night.
Southland expects to be backed by 10,000 feverish fans in its first Ranfurly Shield defence, and it has named a starting XV featuring no fewer than 12 players with Super 14 experience.
"We've got a chance. We're no certainties to lose.
"But I guess we won't be paying low prices at the TAB," Herden said with a smile.
"It's a game we'll always remember.
"We'll go out and show what we've got, and we'll go out to match Southland wherever we can. It should be a lot of fun."
Ranfurly Shield
The teams
North Otago: Billy Guyton, Ofa Fatai, Faaitu Tuamoheloa, Luke Herden (captain), Kasanova Soane, Ben Patston, Kilifi Fangupo, Tevita Fifita, Ross Hay, Ryan Long, David Simpson, Eric Duff, Pieter van der Merwe, Stuart Philpott, Palenapa Mafi.
Reserves: Cameron Schultz, Ralph Darling, Marshall Smith, Josh Collier, Paula Fonokalafi, Jason Forrest, Ekeroma Sefo.
Southland: Glen Horton, Mark Wells, Pehi Te Whare, Seminar Manu, James Patterson, James Wilson, Scott Cowan, Hua Tamariki, Tim Boys or Dion Bates, John Hardie, Joe Tuineau, Josh Bekhuis, Chris King, Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh (captain).
Reserves: Brayden Mitchell, Nic Barrett, Bates or Alex Ryan, Elliot Dixon, Nick Annear, Robbie Robinson or John Dodd, Tony Koonwaiyou or Nick McGrath.
