The experienced forward has settled in nicely in his role as the Otago Nuggets' sixth man. The former Tall Black's ability to hit shots from the outside and bang bodies on the inside has created match-up difficulties for most of the teams he has come up against during a long career which stretches back to 1997.
But this season, the 34-year-old has been asked to start from the bench and to help wring the most out of the Nuggets' back-up crew - dubbed the ''bomb squad''.
Otago has made a perfect start to the season with five wins from five games and leads the league. But with games against the Taranaki Mountain Airs tonight and the Southland Sharks tomorrow, the Nuggets have a tough challenge to keep their record intact.
It is a short turnaround and the bench will be expected to step up. The unavailability of regular starter Hayden Allen has made the challenge that much more difficult.
Allen's defence and experience will be sorely missed but it is Polyblank's role to make sure the bench maintains the standards.
''Our motto is the same every week,'' Polyblank said.
''None of us are out there trying to get big numbers. We've got guys out there to do that. We just need to come in and make sure we keep up the intensity on defence and maintain the flow.''
Polyblank is a bit of a crusader when it comes to complacency.
''I hope the guys don't look at it like we are on top of the table. We need to look at each and every game as though we are tied with everybody else. I know that is the way I look at it. If we take that approach then I think we won't overlook anybody.''
The Mountain Airs are capable but are perhaps too reliant on imports Jack Leasure and Kenny Gabriel. Leasure has been one of the more effective outside shooters in the league in recent seasons but has shot a career low 23.9% this season.
If the Nuggets can keep Leasure quiet, they should have too much firepower with the likes of BJ Anthony, Antoine Tisby and Akeem Wright.
But that is exactly the type of talk which does not sit well with Polyblank.
''Before the season started, not too many people were giving Taranaki credit for being a good team - but they are. They have a quality, quality guard in Jack Leasure. He can hurt you from anywhere and they have some decent Kiwis.
''The key is we have to get as many bodies out there as possible because we play at 3 o'clock the next day. If we can rotate guys in and get everybody to have a bit of rest, it will allow the starters and the guys who play a little bit more to have more energy for that second game.''
Polyblank played for the Sharks last year and was on the other side of the rivalry which exists between Otago and Southland teams.
The game in Dunedin got quite heated with some passionate exchanges in the media during the lead-up and out on the court. But while rivalry is good for the game, Polyblank prefers to stay focused on the task at hand.
''They've got a couple of Breaker boys, so we've got to win that battle of the boards and try and contain Kevin Braswell, force him into some bad shots.
''If we do that, I think we will be OK.''
History is on the Sharks' side. Southland has won four of the six games played between the two teams. The Nuggets, though, swept the series last year and are the form team in the competition.
Both sides have a lot to play for. The Sharks are just outside the top four with three wins from five games. The Nuggets are closing in on an appearance in the playoffs.
Nine wins was the cut-off point last year. Two more wins this weekend and the franchise can really start thinking about the playoffs for the first time in 16 years.
Otago Nuggets
Double header
Nuggets v Mountain Airs
Edgar Centre, tonight 7pm
Nuggets: Antoine Tisby, BJ Anthony, Akeem Wright, Riki Buckrell, Mark Dickel (captain), Brendon Polyblank, James Ross, Matt Trueman, Luke Aston, Hayden Miller, Derek Albertson, Sam Timmins.
Mountain Airs: Paurini Eli, Kenny Gabriel, Dane Brooks, Andrew Green, Kurtis Elliot, Brad Anderson, Ben Crombie, Link Abrams, Ethan Rusbatch, Aaron Bailey-Nowell, Sid Adams, Jack Leasure.
Nuggets v Sharks
Edgar Centre, tomorrow 3pm
Sharks: Luke Martin, Paratene McLeod, Reuben Te Rangi, Morgan Natanahira, Kevin Braswell, Dan Peck, Leon Henry, James Paringatai, Andrew Wheeler, Ethan Carruthers, Brian Conklin, Gareth Dawson.
