The Blues players will call upon the strength of their ancestors and that of their wider community as they lay down a challenge against the British and Irish Lions in what promises to be an emotional pre-match haka at Eden Park in Auckland.
It was composed by Whiria Meltzer and Ruka Makiha, two friends called upon by Blues coach Tana Umaga to devise a suitable challenge before what is the Lions' first match against a New Zealand Super Rugby team. It will be the first time the Blues have performed a pre-match haka.
Called He Toa Takitini (The Strength of Many), the haka, which will be led by halfback Sam Nock and first-five Ihaia West, acknowledges those players who have previously represented the Blues, and the historical significance of Auckland.
Meltzer, a 26-year-old Northland rugby representative with a background in kapa haka which stretches back to early childhood (his family group is Te Waka Huia), said it also "encourages us as young men to strive for excellence and never waiver from a challenge...we shall strive on and endure to the very end.
"We will lay the challenge and never back down".
Meltzer, who went to Maori college Te Rangi Aniwaniwa in Kaitaia, has composed haka for primary schools in the Far North and also the Northland rugby team, said his name was put forward to Umaga by some of the Northland players in the Blues squad, including loose forward Kara Pryor.
"It's a sacred thing, the haka . . . it's not easy to compose," Meltzer said. "It was a privilege to be amongst the Blues boys and management - I was out of my comfort zone, really."
Asked whether the players picked it up quickly, he said: "They did, actually. They picked it up well because all the boys were buying into it - they were in the same waka, the same boat. When it's like that it's easy to teach and it's easy to learn as well."
Unfortunately for Meltzer, an outside back on the fringes of the New Zealand sevens squad this year, he won't be able to see his creation play out in the flesh. He has tickets to the game but has already committed to attending Northland training in Whangarei ahead of their pre-season match against North Harbour next Monday.
"I'm quite gutted I can't watch it live," he said. "It's a hard one. My partner is going to go on behalf of me and she will record it and tell me how it goes."
New Zealand's four other Super Rugby teams, the Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders, have also been given the opportunity to do a haka before facing the Lions over the next few weeks, but not all will do so.
The Blues will be fired up by the example set by the Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei in what was a narrow win by the Lions in their tour opener. And, with He Toa Takitini ringing around a near sold-out Eden Park, they should be ready.
The match kicks off at 7.35pm on Wednesday (NZ time).
TEAMS
Lions: Leigh Halfpenny, Jack Nowell, Jared Payne, Robbie Henshaw, Elliot Daly, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, CJ Stander, Justin Tipuric, James Haskell, Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje, Dan Cole, Ken Owens (c), Jack McGrath
Reserves: Rory Best, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Greig Laidlaw, Johnny Sexton, Liam Williams
Blues: Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, George Moala, Sonny Bill Williams/TJ Faiane, Rieko Ioane, Stephen Perofeta, Augustine Pulu, Steven Luatua, Blake Gibson, Akira Ioane, Scott Scrafton, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Charlie Faumuina, James Parsons (captain), Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Reserves: Hame Faiva, Alex Hodgman, Sione Mafileo, Patrick Tuipulotu, Kara Pryor, Sam Nock, Ihaia West, TJ Faiane/Melani Nanai
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), Angus Gardner (Australia); TMO - Marius Jonker (South Africa)
